The requirement for replaceable cells in e-bike batteries suddenly became a hot topic in 2023, and the European Commission recently added a new chapter to the discussion. The Batteries Regulation which entered into force in August 2023, made it andatory to offer the ability to replace individual battery cells for e-bikes in future. This requirement has been removed in the latest amendment from the European Commission. CONEBI welcomes this change, but not everyone is happy.

That 2025 was not going to be a good year for the Taiwanese industry was already evident after Taipei Cycle in March when it became obvious that order books were still empty. The bicycle-producing nation closed 2025 with a 7% drop in e-bike export volume, compared to the record-breaking bad year in 2024. With just under 337,000 units leaving the country and the export value dropping another 3%, it shows the Taiwan industry is still facing an uphill climb to bring production back to pre-pandemic levels.

Technological advancements, in combination with artificial intelligence (AI), are accelerating the market entry of companies offering safety products to collect rider information. Irish Luna Systems, which developed an on-bike camera and warning system, is one of them. "Customers are already buying this kind of technology — which improves safety but also collects data — in automobiles," says Andrew Fleury, CEO of Luna Systems. "In cycling, these kinds of products are just not offered enough to them, except for the enthusiast's road market."

SHENZHEN, China - On 12 January, Dahon Tech, the subsidiary of folding bike pioneer Dahon, signed a cooperation agreement with Taiwan's third-largest bicycle manufacturer, Ideal Bike Corporation. Ideal Bike is a publicly listed company in Taiwan, while Dahon has been listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since September 2025. In view of intensifying global competition, the two companies intend to focus jointly on expanding their international business, leveraging "the complementary strengths of both parties."

Norwegian start-up tyre manufacturer, ReTyre, has announced a series of positive developments reinforcing its rapid momentum. The company has secured €7 million in new funding in a round led by Hatch Blue's Blue Revolution Fund, with participation from Fundracer and existing investors. The investment is intended to scale production, fulfil existing orders and move the company toward profitability.

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.

Brompton returned to meaningful profitability in early 2025, according to its most recent financial results, after a near-breakdown in 2024. In the period ending 31 March, 2025, operating profit rebounded sharply to £130,476 (€150,200) compared to the £4,602 (€5,300) reported by the United Kingdom folding-bike brand in 2024. Despite this soft rebound in profit, the company's annual data shows an overall £2 million (€2.3 million) loss in profit and a 7.5% drop in bike unit sales.

The bicycle industry has rarely faced a period as prolonged and complex as the years following Covid. Supply-chain disruptions, volatile demand, excess inventory and rising competition - particularly from Asia - have tested even long-established suppliers. For Herrmans Bike Components, a Finnish manufacturer with more than 60 years of history, the past three years have been less about weathering a short-term crisis and more about adapting to a fundamentally new and less predictable reality.

The next major leap for e-bikes won't come from motors or frames alone, but from smart technologies already well established in adjacent industries. That became clear last week at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, where AI and automotive platforms dominated and robots roamed the aisles. Yet beneath that familiar surface, the show carried a message that is of profound importance to micromobility.

The AI boom and defence industries drove the international stock markets in 2025, particularly in emerging markets. The sustained global stock rally even went into its third consecutive year. The value of listed bicycle companies could not keep up with these international trends. Why?

TACHERTING, Germany - An investor has secured the future of bicycle component brand Syntace and the off-road bicycle brand Liteville. The new entity, SL International, has acquired all assets of both entities and was given a temporary helping hand from a well-known German industry participant for the acquisition. No details were provided on the purchase price.

The latest edition of Bike Europe magazine (issue 4/2025) is now available to read online in our digital magazine section. This edition highlights how the carefully knitted global network of bicycle component manufacturers, brands, assemblers and distributors is still under pressure. The industry is unable to regain control of the supply chain after major disruptions during the pandemic, in combination with an overestimated market potential. It is not only a self-inflicted problem; finding solutions also requires drastic steps.

CHICAGO, United States — Performance component brand SRAM has announced two critical expansions to its distribution networks this winter season, enhancing service proximity and global reach through strategic distribution partnerships. These new distribution networks in South Africa and Eastern Europe reflect the company's focus on capturing growing demand in the bicycle aftermarket.

HERENT, Belgium - Reshoring carbon frame production to Europe using the latest technology has always been at the core of Rein4ced, but the turmoil in the bicycle industry has proven too much to sustain the model for Rein4ced. CEO and co-founder Michaël Callens announced the company's bankruptcy this week.

POZZOLEONE, Italy - For Selle Royal Group, 2025 signalled the first signs of recovery after a challenging 2024. A capital increase was approved for Selle Royal Romania in order to strengthen the equity structure during this phase of production ramp-up and volume-driven growth. This step was highlighted in the company's financial report for the period from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025.

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.

HEERENVEEN, the Netherlands - Velo-ce S.R.L. today announced the acquisition of the titanium bike brand Van Nicholas from Accell Group. The Italian company Velo-ce, renowned for its meticulous in-house bicycle production and state-of-the-art facility near Milan, will now take full responsibility for the production and distribution of Van Nicholas bicycles.

LUDHIANA, India - After Indian powertrain giant Hero Motors Ltd. withdrew its planned initial public offering (IPO) in October 2024 on short notice, a new attempt was made for 2026. Although no specific opening and closing dates or price band have been set at this time, the automotive supplier is expected to list this year, 2026. The company's high-profile partnerships with well-known e-bike brands have solidified its relevance in the e-bike world as a drivetrain manufacturer.