Rosie Burgin

MADRID, Spain - Bicycle production in Spain reached 171,200 units during the first half of 2024, data from the Spanish Ministry of Industry and Tourism shows. Although this represents a 6.4% decrease on the same period last year, production has grown to around 30,000 units per month during the second quarter of 2024.

REICHSHOF, Germany - At Eurobike tyre brand Schwalbe unveiled what it calls "a revolution for bicycle valves'- the Schwalbe Clik Valve (SCV). The brand claims it is much easier to use than existing systems and boosts air flow by up to 50%. Schwalbe predicts that the intuitive click system could become the new industry standard for inflating tyres.

FRANKFURT, Germany - The fact that the US e-bike market is lagging behind European counterparts is well-known within the industry. A forecast based on a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30% over the next 7 years could see the US e-bike market reach 6.7 million units and match regular bicycle sales in 2030. This data presented at Eurobike by eCycleElectric however, represented the most optimistic scenario.

UTRECHT, The Netherlands - Following the issues with cargo bike brand Babboe earlier this year, the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) is now conducting investigations into the safety of multiple cargo bike brands. Vogue Bike has confirmed that information has been requested regarding "technical specifications of products."

LONDON, England - Austrian kid's bike brand, Woom has now entered the lucrative UK market. Having had success in 30 other countries and sales of over 1 million units, Woom bikes will be distributed by UK trade partners online and in-stores.

OSAKA, Japan - High inventories in key markets continue to have a knock-on effect for Shimano, the company has reported today in its first half year figures. As a result, net sales in the company's bicycle segment decreased 20.7% in the first 6 months of 2024 compared to the same period last year. However sales in the key market of Europe reveal a turnaround.

FRANKFURT, Germany - Giant Group paid considerable attention to its ESG efforts on its booth at this year's Eurobike. One of the features was the Pre rCarbon push bike, the "r" signifying recycled versions of raw materials. Weighing around 2.4kg it is Giant's first ever complete bike application using its recycle long carbon fiber manufacturing technology.

ROOSENDAAL, The Netherlands - Timyo, the Dutch-based company that designed, developed and jointly manufactured e-bikes under its brands Van Dijck, Keola and Muon, has been declared bankrupt this week. The company had been struggling with issues for some time, including technical defects in e-bike components. However, continuation of the Van Dijck and Muon brands is already in place.

LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg - Belguim's Louyet Group has taken over the motor vehicle distribution business of Arnold Kontz Group. The latter has decided to go back to its roots and fully focus on the bicycle trade and soft mobility. "I feel that the time is right for us to withdraw from car distribution and concentrate once again on bicycles," explains managing director Benji Kontz.

ZEIST, The Netherlands - With 81,353 e-bike units imported into the EU-27 in the month of May, this almost matches the 83,000 units imported in the same period as last year, the latest Eurostat data shows. No doubt encouraging another sigh of relief for the bicycle market in Europe, e-bike imports per month have only continued to rise in 2024.