Rosie Burgin

Pacific Glory Worldwide Ltd (PGW), owned by the Taiwan-based manufacturer Ideal Bike Corporation, has opened a new United States distribution channel, PGW USA. It will oversee sales and support for the Fuji, SE and Tuesday bicycle brands in the US market. It says it will focus on retailer success and long-term sustainability, but open questions remain regarding the current distributor, BikeCo.

Global supply chain diversification has accelerated with major e-bike brands actively seeking qualified non-China manufacturing partners. Chinese battery manufacturer, Greenway, has addressed this critical market need by securing Certificate of Origin (COO) certification for its production facility in Indonesia. This establishes a fully compliant, non-China production base for its e-bike batteries, enabling it to serve global markets with reduced trade barriers and a more resilient supply chain.

NEW YORK, United States - Fitch Ratings has reaffirmed Accell Group's long-term credit rating at 'CCC', indicating that the company remains under significant financial pressure. While Accell is making progress in its turnaround, its current position is still fragile, mainly due to weak market conditions, high debt levels and limited cash generation, the agency determined.

ZEIST, The Netherlands - It became apparent within the first few months of the year that 2025 would not be the turnaround year the bicycle industry needed. A muted Taipei Cycle show made clear that the supply chain was nowhere near back to being in full swing, and despite reasonable spring sales, the European market retracted again in the summer. Business-wise, there were reports of insolvencies, closures and redundancies. Knocks came from all sides: tariffs, human rights accusations, and very public non-alignment within the industry itself on several topics. However, pockets of innovation and newcomers managed to shine through, reminding the industry that its products are well-positioned for the long term. As the industry looks to realign and prepare for 'the fix in 2026', Bike Europe looks back at the articles that shaped 2025.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - 19 environmental NGOs, consumer organisations, and tourism and mobility businesses have written a joint letter to urge the European Commission to harmonise charging systems for electric bicycles and other light means of transport (LMT). "The lack of standardisation of charging connectors is needlessly slowing Europe's green transformation," the group supported by the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) writes.

TALINN, Estonia - "One of the most important mobility tools of our time, affordable, sustainable, and perfect for modern cities, is stuck in an analogue mindset. The cycling industry keeps polishing mechanical parts while the rest of the world has moved on," connectivity specialist Comodule wrote in a recent blog. The company laments at how e-bikes are creating a smoother commute, "but the bike itself is disconnected and largely dumb."

BAD HOMBURG, Germany - Existing minority shareholder, SKion GmbH has acquired "two significant business units" from the BMZ Group. BMZ Holding GmbH and BMZ Germany GmbH faced uncertainty when a sudden disruption in the customer base and subsequent legal proceedings led to an immediate financial challenge for the lithium-ion battery manufacturer. The acquisition is subject to approval by the antitrust authorities.

WASHINGTON, DC, United States - The number of bicycles imported into the United States in the first nine months of 2025 dropped 23% year-on-year. Looking specifically at China, imports from there have dropped by 40% amid tariff uncertainty throughout the year. Taiwan and Cambodia have made volume gains of 10% and 83% respectively. The latest import data provided by the US International Trade Commission shows that the face of the US bicycle market is already changing as a result of President Trump's 'America First' nationalist policy.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - E-bike brand Cowboy has officially been taken over by France's ReBirth Group Holding SA. The agreement signals a new phase for the Belgian brand, which will now fully lean on ReBirth's industrial and recapitalisation capabilities. The transaction includes a full financial restructuring with Cowboy's primary lender, providing a stronger balance sheet and a clean slate. Cowboy founder and CEO, Adrien Roose, has left the company.

VICENZA, Italy - A group of private strategic investors led by former Crankbrothers CEO Gaspare Licata has acquired a majority stake in Extreme Racing Shox (EXT), the Italian manufacturer of high-performance suspension systems for bicycle and motorsports applications. Under the new ownership structure, EXT plans to invest in new technologies and strengthen its distribution.