FRANKFURT, Germany - Despite reports of ongoing high inventories in the market, German trade organisation, ZIV, presented an optimistic outlook during a market update on the day before Eurobike fully kicks off in Frankfurt. "Sales of e-bikes remain at a high level, and the overall market situation is characterised by healthy consumer demand," ZIV managing director Burkhard Stork stated when advocating the significant growth potential for the industry.

ST INGBERT, Germany - One of the most modern bicycle factories in Europe: that's the claim Kettler Alu-Rad attaches to its new home in western Germany. Bike Europe visited the €100 million facility to follow the production and assembly process.

NEW DEHLI, India - Metro Tyres Limited is gearing-up to further expand the footprint of its house brand 'Ortem' in the European and US market. The Indian bicycle tyre manufacturer with production sites in Ludhiana has invested in doubling the tyre and tube production capacity of its export-oriented facility to also further expand into the private label business.

荷蘭，海倫芬（HEERENVEEN）－Accell Group執行長Tjeerd Jegen於財報公布明確數據，顯示他自2023年11月上任後公司的財務狀況。該公司獲利持續下降，債務不斷增加。Jegen於荷蘭媒體《FD》的訪談中透露：「經銷商庫存仍過高，尤其德國，導致市場衰退。」

比利時，布魯塞爾（BRUSSELS）－電動自行車已成為歐洲消費者最嚮往的電動交通工具選項，同時兼具移動性、休閒和健康的優點。電動自行車亦促成製造業回流（reshoring），歐洲市場的電動自行車主要都是本地製造。儘管電動自行車市場不斷成長，但自行車銷量卻在下滑。

儘管自行車和電動自行車銷售在去年春季並未好轉，也大致決定了接下來整年的走向，不過市場指標仍顯示，今年有機會成為自行車市場穩定化的一年。在Bike Europe最新一期網路雜誌中有報導，荷蘭及德國等主要市場均有出現緩慢但穩定的恢復跡象。

紐西蘭，羅托魯瓦（ROTORUA）－與其他同行或許失敗的經歷不同，新創企業Bike Matrix似乎在自行車行業的支持下，成功建立一個完整的自行車零件數據庫。這間紐西蘭公司現已吸引到許多大廠供應數據，這在過去是個鮮為人知的世界，該公司成功的祕訣是什麼？

REDDITCH, England - Citing headwinds in the bicycle market, UK retail chain, Halfords, has closed the financial year with a 30% drop in volume in its cycling division. "The bicycle market consolidated at a faster rate than expected, leading to much more discounting, which put significant short-term pressure on gross margin," the company reports.

Rotor, a premium bicycle components company from Spain, has traditionally focused on the aftersales market, producing parts for bikes that can easily be swapped out and adapted to fit a cyclist's personal needs. This year, however, after 30 years of successful global distribution, Rotor is ready to venture out further, shifting its focus to the OEM market.

Many bicycle experts believe that automatic shifting will be the next major technological revolution in cycling. Taiwanese component specialist TRP and German e-bike expert Bosch eBike Systems are making it happen. At Eurobike, they will present the TRP x Bosch eShift system to the world for the first time.

Selle Italia presents its new GT-1 saddle dedicated to urban mobility and commuting. A lightweight, comfortable and eco-friendly solution.

HEERENVEEN, the Netherlands - Accell Group CEO Tjeerd Jegen has revealed some clear figures in a business update on the financial situation at the company he has been heading since November 2023. The manufacturer continues to see profits drop and debts rise. "Especially in Germany, the market collapsed because dealers had and still have too high inventories," said Jegen in an interview with the Dutch media FD.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - E-bikes have become the top electric vehicle choice for European consumers, offering mobility, leisure, and health benefits. The e-bike also brought the much-wanted reshoring of production: e-bikes for European markets are predominantly made locally. While the e-bike continues to gain ground, bicycle sales have slipped away.

FRANKFURT, Germany - ZF Group will present its new 48-volt drive system for e-bikes for the first time at Eurobike. Including all components of the 'ZF Bike Eco System', the core component is the ZF 'Centrix' drive unit with an ultra-compact, 90 Newton meter mid-motor. Raymon Bicycles is a launch partner with an e-MTB specified with the drive system expected in spring 2025.

REICHSHOF, Germany - One year after the launch of the Green Marathon, Schwalbe is converting large parts of its existing tyre range to the same circular concept. From now on, 70% of all Schwalbe tyres will be made with recycled carbon black (rCB), the tyre brand reports.

Due to the embargoes applied to China, European bicycle manufacturers turning to the domestic market for e-bike production might likely direct their attention to Turkey.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The European bicycle industry organisations have taken a leading role in the business days program in hall 8 at Eurobike 2024. In various settings with CONEBI and CIE, pressing topics within the framework of the European Industrial policy and Green Deal will be discussed. This report offers an overview of the key issues and assumptions of legislative topics currently on the agenda at the European Commission which are relevant for the industry.

Sigma-Elektro is adapting its processes and structures to meet the requirements of the e-mobility and bike industry, positioning itself as a professional OEM supplier. Director of business development Lars Adloff discusses the company's strategic shift and its implications for the future.