Rosie Burgin

ALTENBERGE, Germany - Bicycle/ebike assembler, AT Zweirad, is expanding their production facilities in Altenberge in anticipation of the growing e-bike market. The first concrete pillars of a new assembly plant have been placed and a groundbreaking ceremony has been held. Completion is expected in early Autumn.

DOETINCHEM, the Netherlands - Across Europe, countries are taking small steps forwards in reopening their industries. Time to evaluate what impact closures have had on the bicycle supply chain and supported businesses. What steps are European companies now taking and what impact has so far been felt?

MILAN, Italy - A taskforce of experts put together by the Italian government to bring the country out of the Covid19 crisis are looking towards bicycles as a safer means of transportation in cities. Among the proposals of the task force, led by Vittorio Colao, are calls for financing of e-bikes to avoid crowding on public transport.

JIANGSU, China - During the coronavirus pandemic, public transport in many Chinese cities was temporarily suspended and sharing e-cycles began to show their value. As the country begins the gradual pJIANGSU, China - During the coronavirus pandemic, public transport in many Chinese cities was temporarily suspended and shared (e)bicycles began to show their value. As the country begins the gradual process of going back to work, the operational volume of shared e-bikes has increased significantly, a trend which is expected to continue this year.

GARREL, Germany - Heiko Plorinn has been appointed General Manager of Roland Werk GmbH, a family business based in Garrel, Germany in April 2020. The company's main shareholder Thomas Kalkhoff, who is currently responsible for daily operations wanted to realise a generational change. The appointment is also seen as the next step in the further development of the company whose core business is the production of wheels.

LELYSTAD, the Netherlands - Giant Europe has started building a new distribution centre in Lelystad the Netherlands, to strengthen its position in Europe. Despite the coronavirus lockdown measures in the country, Giant confirms that this has had minimal impact and construction is still on schedule for completion in 2020.

WILTON, USA - With it's latest e-bike launch, the Mavaro Neo 1, Cannondale has collaborated with Garmin to create an integrated radar system that alerts riders to vehicles approaching from behind.

SUZHOU, China- Bafang, manufacturer of e-mobility components and complete drive systems, has opened its own sales office in Taichung City, Taiwan and welcomes Denise Huang as its Taiwan Contact Agent. The new Taichung office will service OEM customers in Taiwan for sales, after sales, product presentations and all other aspects of OEM needs and requests.

AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands - Pon Holdings, which includes the Pon Bike Group, has reported an improvement in the group's financial results compared to 2018. Both the turnover and the profit of the company increased in 2019, but the group has followed other large companies and decided to postpone the dividend this year.

DOETINCHEM, the Netherlands - The coronavirus is hitting hard, both in terms of health and economics. With various forms of lockdowns in place across the world, the global supply chain which allows the bike industry to function is facing the consequences of reduced operations.