As the bicycle industry asks for better product data, three European bike-tech companies, NOCA, DST and BikeFolder have combined resources to connect PLM and PIM software, an independent industry data standard and aftermarket digital twins into one practical industry solution. The collaboration is being rolled out under the name Smart Bike Brand.

Herrmans Bike Components Ltd hired François Joly as Sales & Marketing Director. Joly brings broad international experience from the bicycle industry, with a strong background in OEM business, aftermarket development and distribution.

The local market is becoming increasingly important for the Suzhou, China-based e-bike motor system manufacturer Bafang. Its revenue export share has slid from 35% in 2021 to 20% last year. The total operating revenue in 2025 was RMB 1.3369 billion, down 1.47% year-on-year. The net profit attributable to shareholders was RMB 102.819 million in 2025, up 61.04% compared with 2024.

Do you know any modern electric car where you still have to shift gears manually all the time? Exactly. Yet in the e-bike world, riders are still often forced to manage support modes like they're driving a 1990s stick shift. With its new GXM e-bike system, Panasonic is pushing toward a smarter future: more comfort, more efficiency, and less distraction. Not just raw power.

The spike in oil prices has drastically changed the market outlook. Raw material prices plus the costs of production and logistics have been affected by the geopolitical situation. The high fuel prices worldwide could also attract more people to start cycling. Are you prepared to adapt to the new situation? The Global Bicycle Purchase Index (GPBI) will provide you with these insights next month.

Sweden's leading bicycle retailer, WS We Sports Group, continues its omnichannel expansion strategy with the opening of its fifth Cykelkraft-branded brick-and-mortar location. The new 2,500-square-meter flagship store in Kållered, near Gothenburg, officially opened on 21 May is a major step forward in the retail development of WS We Sports Group AB's Bike & Mobility division.

Visitors to Eurobike will miss some industry events which have become a fixed part of the trade show's agenda this year. The official industry body, European Cycling Industries (ECI) has dropped all of its presence at Eurobike. "Unlike previous years, we are not organising events like the leadership breakfast or participating in panels," confirmed ECI CEO Paul Walsh to Bike Europe.

From pre-IPO acquirers to non-traditional investors and aftermarket economics, the next opportunity for bike startups may sit outside traditional cycling. After the capital reset, the cycling industry has been asking: when will investors come back? But maybe that is the wrong question.

Kona Bicycles has appointed Charles Russell as president and chief executive officer (CEO), effective June 1, 2026. The transition reflects a long-term investment in Kona 3.0 and the brand's future. Russell succeeds co-founder Jake Heilbron, who previously served as president and CEO, as part of a planned leadership transition focused on long-term continuity and investment in the company's future.

The bicycle industry is eagerly seeking new opportunities to regain control of the supply chain after major disruptions during the pandemic. Production relocations and new component suppliers could be part of the solutions. It also opened the market to new brands and companies that are not weighed down by their history. The recent shift of the industry's attention from the once-leading trade events Eurobike and Taipei Cycle Show to China Cycle makes it clear that the global network of manufacturers, brands, assemblers, and distributors of bicycle parts is changing drastically.

The massive influx of non-compliant fatbikes in the Netherlands, combined with annoying user behaviour, prompted Dutch politicians to call for a wide range of restrictive measures. It gave the fatbikes a very bad image, prompting local distributor La Souris to find new markets abroad. Initially, investors were not eager to step in, but now La Souris has raised €6.5 mln from ING Bank to reach the company's strategy.

Bosch eBike Systems is entering the fast-growing second-hand e-bike segment with a digital certification scheme, marking a notable step in the professionalisation of Europe's pre-owned market. From July 2026, German refurbishment specialist Rebike will be the first partner to certify e-bikes with Bosch's smart system and mark them with the 'Certified by Bosch' certificate.

The e-bike market share could reach as high as 80% according to past predictions. Since the start of the sales boom more than a decade ago, it was uncertain what market share the e-bike would eventually take of the total bicycle market in Europe. The 80% outlook now seems exaggerated, as the Europe-wide market share remains stuck at just under 40%. What has put a stop to the growth of the e-bike market?

Children's bike manufacturer Woom is expanding its top management team by appointing Björn Boos as its Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Together with CEO Bernd Hake and COO Johannes Kisslinger, he will be instrumental in driving forward the ongoing international expansion and strategic evolution of Woom.

German e-commerce giant The Platform Group (TPG) states that it has "fully met" its annual forecast, with significant growth in revenue and earnings. "The organic growth of our platforms was consistently strong, enabling us to successfully decouple from the generally weak retail industry trend," founder Dr Dominik Benner states. The group's activities in the bicycle industry include three online platforms and one brick-and-mortar store.

Testing, inspection and certification company SGS has expanded its global bicycle and e-mobility testing network with the opening of a new laboratory in Bentonville, Arkansas, on 18 May. The new lab will focus on compliance testing for bicycles, e-bikes and other micromobility products destined for North American and international markets.

As e-bike competition intensifies, bicycle brands seek more than just components. They need diverse product possibilities, faster development, and reliable service to respond to market shifts. With over 23 years of experience, more than 370 patents, a 5,000+ m² CNAS-accredited laboratory, and over 20 million systems sold worldwide, Bafang has established itself as a stable, long-term partner.

Besides the inventory crisis affecting demand and external markets nipping at export market share, the Taiwanese bicycle industry has also been forced to look inwards at its manufacturing practices following an exposé report on migrant workers' conditions. Now, 15 months later, a new follow-up report has been published, specifically focused on the bicycle industry. It details how at least 10 manufacturers have adopted no-fee policies in 2025, but there is still a long way to go in transforming policy into practice.