PARIS, France - The electric scooter market in France is continuing its downward spiral. According to the eighth edition of the Micromobility Market Barometer, co-published by Mobilians and Smart Mobility Lab, 2024 marks the third consecutive year of decline for motorised personal mobility devices (EDPMs), a segment overwhelmingly dominated by electric scooters.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The total number of e-bikes entering the European Union (EU) in Q1 of 2025 is almost unchanged on a like-for-like basis compared to the same period last year, the latest data from Eurostat shows. With a 3% rise to almost 130,000 units, it is China and Cambodia which have significantly grown their contribution to the e-bikes entering the EU. Meanwhile, the number of e-bikes coming from Taiwan continues to decline.

SCHRAMBERG, Germany - Even though the weakening economy and the ongoing destocking in the 2024 financial year hurt the turnover and earnings of stock-listed high-precision gear parts and components manufacturer hGears AG, the company says the cost and structural measures introduced are having the desired effect. These have also prepared the company for another difficult year.

DELFT, the Netherlands - Cargo bikes and box bikes are now also getting their own European standard, following the example of similar standards set for bicycles, e-bikes and individual components. This should ensure, among other things, that cargo bikes' overall safety and quality are held to a high standard within Europe.

With Preeto, Zhaowei has ventured into e-mobility - with a clear focus on high-performance, compact, and quiet drive systems that are precisely tailored to modern mobility concepts. "Our goal was to develop a drive that delivers maximum performance despite its minimal size," explains Jürgen Ludwig, managing director of the European subsidiary ZW-Drive in Munich. This is made possible by Zhaowei's high level of vertical integration and its in-house development of electronics, software, and mechanics.

SHENZHEN, China - Folding bike manufacturer, Dahon is seeking capital and submitted an IPO prospectus to the Hong Kong stock exchange earlier this year. The company reports it is planning to list on the main board, with China Securities International serving as the sole sponsor.

STAVENGER, Norway - Podbike, the four-wheeled e-bike manufacturer, has announced its bankruptcy filing, citing an "extended period of financial constraints." The Norwegian company had previously capitalised on a niche in the e-bike market with its four-wheeled, human-powered e-bike that encased the driver in a small pod.

After strategically expanding last year with a new factory in Vietnam to boost production capacity and enhance global compliance—especially for the European and U.S. markets—Ananda has now upgraded its Wuxi factory in China with advanced testing and assembly equipment. This facility, one of Ananda's five global factories, produces the majority of the company's e-bike systems.

TAIPEI, Taiwan - Human rights have become a key issue in industrial practices, progressing from a moral inclination to a regulatory necessity. This change is also taking place in the bicycle industry. The issue came to the forefront earlier this year when allegations of mistreatment of migrant workers in the Taiwanese bicycle industry surfaced. The Taipei Cycle show in March offered Bike Europe the opportunity to take stock of what is currently at play in Taiwan.

GRENCHEN, Switzerland - BMC Group has announced the reduction of approximately 40 jobs worldwide as part of a broader restructuring strategy aimed at reducing costs and returning focus to its core business. The decision comes amid significant economic challenges to ensure the company remains competitive.

TAICHUNG, Taiwan - The countryside just north of Taichung houses one of those smaller, high-tech companies which characterise the bicycle industry supply chain in Taiwan. The family company Ora Engineering was founded in 1996 as an innovator in the metal forming and welding industry. Today the company supplies a range of frames, parts and components, particularly in titanium, to the global market with an export share of 98%.

LONG BEACH, United States - Amid an increasingly volatile trade industry, independent testing and certification body ACT Lab has launched a global pricing initiative to support bicycle and e-mobility manufacturers in maintaining safe and compliant products. The "Tariff Reduction ACT" applies to mechanical and chemical testing services in bundled packages to help companies navigating the frequently shifting trade policies and disruptions in the supply chain.

ÁGUEDA, Portugal - 'Present and Future' is the theme of the international conference focused on the two-wheel sector next week on Wednesday, 28 May. Organised by ABIMOTA's Bike Value Innovation Centre Association, the one-day conference will highlight key industry innovations in Portugal as well as market developments in major European countries.

COPENHAGEN, Denmark - The Danish bike sector is steadily growing these days, thanks to the ever-growing demand for e-bikes and the country's emphasis on living an active, health-conscious lifestyle.

TAICHUNG, Taiwan - Astro-Tech's unveiling of its new thermoplastic-pressed bicycle frame at Taipei Cycle Show gave attendees a glimpse at the manufacturing feat, but did not fully reveal the characteristics of the product. To produce it, thermoplastic material is heated to a pliable state, formed under high pressure and then cooled to set the shape.

DRESDEN, Germany - Online bicycle retailer Bike24 Holding AG closed its first quarter of 2025 with double-digit revenue growth in all European sales regions compared to the same period of the previous year and a €2.1 million improvement in operating results.

MALLABIA, Spain - The sector has once again experienced an extremely unstable period where excess supply and the search for liquidity forced brands to make widespread discounts, critically deteriorating margins, writes Orbea in its annual report. For Orbea the market situation resulted in an 8% decrease in turnover.

TAICHUNG, Taiwan - The bicycle industry is starting to gain some traction again after two years of standstill. Taiwan's manufacturers are now starting to report increased earnings for the first quarter of this year. Profit margins remain under pressure, suggesting that OEMs are making significant efforts to revive market activity.