OSAKA, Japan - High inventories in key markets continue to have a knock-on effect for Shimano, the company has reported today in its first half year figures. As a result, net sales in the company's bicycle segment decreased 20.7% in the first 6 months of 2024 compared to the same period last year. However sales in the key market of Europe reveal a turnaround.

FRANKFURT, Germany - Giant Group paid considerable attention to its ESG efforts on its booth at this year's Eurobike. One of the features was the Pre rCarbon push bike, the "r" signifying recycled versions of raw materials. Weighing around 2.4kg it is Giant's first ever complete bike application using its recycle long carbon fiber manufacturing technology.

MUNICH, Germany - Due to dropping e-bike sales, German torque sensor maker NCTE AG had to swallow hard in the first half of 2024. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. A whopping incoming order increase is keeping the stock-listed company optimistic about the future.

ROOSENDAAL, The Netherlands - Timyo, the Dutch-based company that designed, developed and jointly manufactured e-bikes under its brands Van Dijck, Keola and Muon, has been declared bankrupt this week. The company had been struggling with issues for some time, including technical defects in e-bike components. However, continuation of the Van Dijck and Muon brands is already in place.

LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg - Belguim's Louyet Group has taken over the motor vehicle distribution business of Arnold Kontz Group. The latter has decided to go back to its roots and fully focus on the bicycle trade and soft mobility. "I feel that the time is right for us to withdraw from car distribution and concentrate once again on bicycles," explains managing director Benji Kontz.

ZEIST, The Netherlands - With 81,353 e-bike units imported into the EU-27 in the month of May, this almost matches the 83,000 units imported in the same period as last year, the latest Eurostat data shows. No doubt encouraging another sigh of relief for the bicycle market in Europe, e-bike imports per month have only continued to rise in 2024.

REGAU, Austria - The restructuring plan of the young bicycle and e-bike contract manufacturer WSF Bicycle Technology GmbH, which slipped into insolvency on April 24, has failed. Despite big ambitions, all assets are now being liquidated, the insolvency administrator Dr. Klaus Schiller confirmed to Bike Europe.

LUDHIANA, India - To boost local manufacturing and reduce the country's dependency on imports, the Modi government launched an incentive scheme for 13 sectors in 2020. Other objectives were to attract foreign direct investments and to expand exports. Now the bicycle industry also wants to be included in this scheme.

ULFT, The Netherlands - Lennart van Houwelingen has joined Hesling Bike Parts as international sales manager. With extensive experience in the international bicycle industry, including nearly nine years with Enviolo/NuVinci and five years with Bafang, he will focus on expanding the Dutch company's presence on the European market.

盧森堡，盧森堡市（LUXEMBOURG）－歐洲檢察官辦公室（European Public Prosecutor's Office，簡稱EPPO）宣布，自中國進口電動自行車的某義大利公司因涉嫌重大海關詐欺行為，已對其執行凍結令。該公司被控避稅金額超過980萬歐元。對於歐盟電動自行車零件進口問題的複雜性，這一最新案件亦引起社會關注。

荷蘭，海牙（DEN HAAG）－荷蘭人類環境和運輸督察局（Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate，簡稱ILT）已扣押大約3,500輛胖胎自行車，原因是這些產品符合輕型摩托車（moped）法規，但非電動自行車法規。這需要不同的型式認可。胖胎車在荷蘭已成為廣大年輕族群的愛好車款，近期也出現增加控管的呼聲。

瑞典，斯德哥爾摩（STOCKHOLM）－法國體育用品零售連鎖巨頭Decathlon已宣布，將於本月底結束在瑞典的業務。該公司發言人向本社表示：「目前全球經濟情勢以及這對我們在瑞典營運造成的影響，很遺憾這迫使我們做出這個艱難的決定。」

英國，哈斯丁（HASTINGS）－英國自行車品牌Whyte Bikes今年正經歷轉型。新執行長上任，加上一系列屢次獲獎的電動登山車，該品牌正進一步拓往歐洲市場。他們在德國已與分銷商合作，也在Eurobike上與DSB簽訂合約，預計於2025年在義大利市場推出品牌系列。

LOS ANGELES, US - "The bicycle industry can expect a gradual recovery with significant upside in the medium to long term, with 2026 and 2027 marking pivotal years for increased mergers and acquisitions and investment opportunities." This is the conclusion of a new report led by global investment bank Houlihan Lokey. In contrast to the current market conditions, the study indicates that another boom period for the industry is also possible before the end of the decade.

THE HAGUE, The Netherlands - Approximately 3,500 fatbikes have been seized by the Dutch authorities due to not meeting the legal requirements of an e-bike, but that of a moped. This requires a different type approval. Fatbikes, in some cases tampered with, have become immensely popular amongst younger riders in the Netherlands prompting calls for more law enforcement in the market.

STOCKHOLM, Sweden - French sporting goods chain store retail giant Decathlon has announced that it will cease its business operations in Sweden at the end of this month. "The current global economic situation and its impact on our activities in Sweden have forced us to sadly make this difficult decision," a Decathlon spokesperson told Bike Europe.

BERLIN, Germany - Full-service mobility provider Cycle has acquired the Dutch delivery e-bike manufacturer, Ebike4Delivery. "This strategic acquisition strengthens our position as a provider of e-bike fleets for the delivery industry in Europe," writes Cycle in a statement. The transaction includes the staff, all e-bikes, and existing leasing contracts.

At Eurobike 2024, the ZF Group unveiled its new 48-Volt drive system for e-bikes for the first time. The 'ZF Bike Eco System' includes all drive components such as the e-motor, batteries, control units, app, and cloud connectivity. The core component is the ZF CentriX drive unit with a compact, 90 Nm mid-motor.