MUNICH, Germany - With a very heavy lean towards the automotive sector despite a recent attempt to diverge to all forms of mobility, one voice stood out for the bicycle industry at this year's IAA as cars dominated the halls. "Germany has more than just a car industry. The bicycle industry and public transport are also strong players - and deserve political visibility and a level playing field," Sandra Wolff, CEO of Riese & Müller said during the 'Why diverse mobility is so important' session, which was moderated by Politico.

The international bicycle industry, once heralded as a long-term growth story thanks to the e-bike boom, now finds itself grappling with uncertainty. Tariffs, shifting trade flows, regulatory ambiguity and fragile consumer demand are reshaping strategies across the value chain. Four leading manufacturers — Bosch eBike Systems, Schwalbe, Bafang and Velo —paint a picture of an industry both challenged and transformed, where resilience increasingly depends on innovation and adaptability.

TAICHUNG, Taiwan - The annual event for product managers has become the next big thing on the calendar to gauge industry sentiment. The positive market expectations signalled at Eurobike last June are now under severe pressure. What can the industry expect from Taichung Bike Week 2025 next week?

HONGKONG - Folding bike specialist Dahon Tech (02543.HK) officially debuted on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange today. It even garnered the attention of the Hong Kong capital market as a 'Star Stock' of 2025. On its first day of trading, Dahon Tech opened at 67.5 RMB (€ 8.07), a 36.4% increase from its listing price of 49.5 RMB (€ 5.92). The high and low reached 69 RMB (€ 8.25) and 56.4 RMB (€ 6.74), respectively, before closing at 60 RMB (€ 7.17). Half-day trading volume was 6.7537 million shares, totalling 455 million RMB (€ 54.4 million).

NIJMEGEN, the Netherlands - Ebike4Delivery invests €15 million to seize control of production of its delivery e-bikes in the Netherlands. With this in-house production, Ebike4Delivery aims to increase quality and gain greater control over the entire process.

Bosch has again chosen to work closely alongside TRP, the premium brand of the Taiwanese component specialist Tektro, to focus on advancing innovations in e-bikes. In their first collaboration, ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) was the focus. Now, automatic electronic shifting systems take centre stage.

ROTORUA, New Zealand - "The digitalisation of the bicycle industry requires clear and uniform data structures," says Lars Röttger, managing director of Bidex GmbH. That's the reasoning behind Bidex's recently announced partnership with New Zealand company Bike Matrix, according to the company's press release.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Cowboy's 2024 annual report, finalised on 4 August and published after a significant delay a month later, shows a company scrambling to find new financiers amidst declining profits. It also sheds new light on Cowboy's recent recall and the financial toll that it took on the young Brussels-based company.

As the EU introduces tougher battery regulations, Bafang sets the bar for e-bike battery safety and sustainability with advanced-level testing, automotive-grade BMS, and eco-focused design. The company strives to deliver durability, performance, and trust for a safer, greener, and more reliable e-mobility future.

VIENNA, Austria - Austrian kids' bicycle supplier Woom GmbH is continuing its growth path with strong half-year results. In the first half of 2025, Woom has achieved its best half-year results since it launched in 2013. Revenue rose by about 41% compared to 2024, reaching €90.1 million.

SWIEBODZIN, Poland - Sprick, a long-standing name in the German Bicycle sector, has entered a new chapter. After financial difficulties led to insolvency of the bicycle assembler at the start of this year, the company is now set to become part of multinational, Singapore-based DuTech Group.

WASHINGTON DC, United States - The number of bicycles imported into the United States in the first half of 2025 has dropped 25% year-on-year. When looking at Q2 specifically this is a 35% drop compared to 2024. The impact of tariffs and trade wars has seen China's relevance as US bicycle supplier slip considerably.

ROOSENDAAL, the Netherlands - In Q2, from April to June, the Dutch bicycle market turnover rate rose significantly, averaging around 10% per month, according to figures from national consultancy group H&L Benchmark Group. This translates to 7.7% turnover growth for the first half of 2025, compared to the same period last year. In addition, about half of the H&L Benchmark Group is seeing a further reduction in excessive inventory.

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands - Retail giant Decathlon and KwikFit are starting a partnership in Amsterdam for the maintenance and repair of Decathlon bikes and e-bikes. The sports retailer has three stores in the capital, only two of which have bike repair workshops. Now, Decathlon customers can also visit the centrally located KwikFit location. If successful, a national roll-out is on the cards.

PARIS, France - Bike-leasing company Vapaus Group has announced the integration of France's Azfalte, a corporate cycling company boasting a 250-client portfolio. Calling France "Europe's strongest growth potential," Vapaus Group says it's excited to explore international growth with Azfalte, hoping to achieve one million new riders in the coming years.

COPENHAGEN, Denmark - "All operational activity has ceased," reads the email from Lasse Almgren, the CEO of the Danish start-up known as Pentalock. The company, under the name of Danish Mobility System 1 ApS, filed for bankruptcy on August 11.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The European bicycle industry is losing a key face in Brussels. Manuel Marsilio has officially stepped down from his position as general manager of the Confederation of the European Bicycle Industry (CONEBI). This marks the end of more than a decade of leadership. Meanwhile, the ECF has welcomed its new CEO, who is tasked with advocating for better cycling infrastructure across Europe.

MONTREUIL, France - French authorities have uncovered a vast financial fraud network in a large-scale investigation that involved over 70,000 Chinese-made e-bikes across six storage sites in the country. The losses amount to €6 million.