The European bicycle industry has continued its transition towards a more balanced and demand-driven market. Following the exceptional surge in demand during the Covid boom, supply chain disruptions, and the subsequent market correction, the latest 2025 data clearly indicate that the industry is stabilising. "This is a sign that the inventory troubles that we have had coming out of COVID are now finally at the end," said industry body ECI CEO Paul Walsh at the presentation of the 2026 Bicycle Industry & Market Profile (BIMP).

Chinese investors were less active in the bicycle industry in the past than it appeared from the outside. To date, there have been very few known investments by the Chinese in Western companies. Since 2015, corporate acquisitions by Chinese investors have mainly involved Asian companies, with the target firms mostly being bicycle component manufacturers. Why are there relatively few takeovers by Chinese investors in our sector?

The transfer of Accell Group to the new owner, the Singapore-based investment firm DuTech Group, passed another regulatory milestone. The Polish anti-competition authorities, UOKiK, identified no concerns significant enough to justify remedies or prohibit the transaction, and therefore approved the acquisition.

A lively and dynamic tradeshow is not what you would expect in a gloomy market like France's. Still, that was the case at the Pro-Days event in Paris, which took place only a week after Eurobike. The total market volume in France decreased by 6% in 2025, while revenue was down 4.8% year-on-year. Moreover, this was the third consecutive year of market decline, and there is no outlook for sales improvement. Under those circumstances, you don't expect a dynamic trade fair, yet that was still the case.

Taichung Bike Week has remained a fixture in the global bicycle industry for more than two decades. Despite changes in manufacturing, supply chains and the way companies communicate, it continues to play a unique role. The reason is simple: it was never designed to be a traditional trade show.

The uncertain economic outlook due to trade policy trends of various nations, as well as rising geopolitical risks, such as increasing energy prices amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, is gaining growing influence on Shimano's financial results. As a result, net sales in bicycle and e-bike components in the first half of 2026 equalled last year at 181,379 million yen (€974 million), and operating income decreased 15.1% to 20,064 million yen (€107.8 million).

The e-bike plays a central role for the brand Velo de Ville. More than 80% of production in Altenberge, Germany, consists of e-bikes. Although general manager and owner Volker Thiemann is positive about the market, he is also concerned about recent technological developments that, in his view, threaten the survival of today's e-bike.

The UK will maintain its anti-dumping measures on bicycles and certain bicycle parts imported from China until August 2029, following the conclusion of a transition review. Duty rates will remain unchanged, ranging from 19.2% to 48.5%, with the measures intended to protect domestic manufacturers from a resurgence of low-priced Chinese imports.

For Austrian KTM Fahrrad GmbH, the financial year 2024/2025 was still a challenging time. According to the company's financial statements, filed only last week, KTM Fahrrad reported a nearly 14% decline in revenue from € 425 million in 2023/2024 to €365 million in the 2024/25 fiscal year. The company's results in this fiscal year were still heavily influenced by massive discounting campaigns.

Battery manufacturer BMZ Battery Solutions has announced it will close its production plant in North Macedonia and consolidate its European manufacturing operations in Poland. The transfer will take place in stages between August and December 2026.

A newly-commissioned e-bike manufacturing facility in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, has been placed on the market following the insolvency of E-Velox, a company within the Leader 96 Group.

Belgium's speed pedelec market continued its transformation in the first half of 2026, with strong growth in new registrations driven by leasing contracts and large fleet deliveries, while the rapidly expanding second-hand market is creating a broader customer base for speed pedelec sales in Europe's leading market.

US electric car pioneer Tesla Inc. is now offering a bicycle through its online store. But it's not an e-bike as could have been expected, but a balance bike for kids. With this product, the company aims to introduce kids aged two to five to its brand at an early age.

The central analysis tool of ZIV's market data service has been officially launched, with participating German bicycle dealers now having access to the dealer dashboard. "This is an important step towards greater transparency in the German bicycle market and an important milestone for business planning for the entire industry," says Katharina Hinse, ZIV Head of Industrial and Economic Policy.

Although the recovery of overall demand at Taiwanese listed bicycle manufacturers Merida Industry Co. Ltd. and Ideal Bike Corporation is taking longer to materialise, industry peer Giant Manufacturing Company Ltd. saw revenue reach its highest level in 15 months in June. However, Giant's revenue in the first half of 2026 was still 10.5% lower year on year.

Just over 150,000 e-bike units are noted to have left Taiwan's shores in the first half of 2026. This is a 14% drop compared to the same period last year and marks the lowest volume of e-bikes leaving the country in the first six months of the year since 2017. The US market notes the biggest year-on-year losses. In total, Taiwan's first half-year e-bike export value has also dipped below NT$10 billion (€294 million) for the first time since 2017, marking a significant problem for an already challenged industry.

Bicycle assembly and maintenance training in Spain has received a major boost following government approval of a new vocational specialisation course. The programme provides funding for 690 hours of training to qualify professionals in the assembly, repair and maintenance of bicycles and e-bikes. This is the result of more than four years of joint work between the Spanish bicycle industry and the Administration.

Merida Industry has announced that Vansen Tseng, the company's President, has resigned from his position due to personal career planning, effective July 17, 2026. "To ensure the continued smooth execution of business operations and management activities, the position will be assumed on an interim basis by Michael Tseng, the Chairman of the Merida Group," the company confirmed to Bike Europe.