TAIPEI, Taiwan - The fact that the Taiwanese supply chain has struggled during 2024 is fully evident in the latest custom statistics. In Q3, the island nation exported around 75,000 e-bike units, a 44% drop compared to 2023. E-bike exports to the EU specifically dropped 55% to a mere 34,000 units between July and September. Most significantly, the country is on course to see its export value drop half a billion euros this year in total.

ZEIST, the Netherlands - As the year draws to a close the Bike Europe team would like to thank you for your continued support throughout this challenging year.

TAICHUNG, Taiwan - In recognition of its ESG activities, Giant Group has joined the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) Emerging Markets Index, making it the first company in the bicycle industry to have this distinction.

QUEBEC, Canada - Long standing bicycle manufacturer Rocky Mountain Bicycles has filed for Chapter 11 status to restructure the company. The company will continue its operations in full during its self-initiated restructuring process under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA), reports the Canadian new service Cision's Newswire.

WELS, Austria - After motorcycle company KTM AG had to file an application for restructuring proceedings with self-administration at the end of November, its parent company Pierer Mobility AG commissioned Citigroup Global Markets Europe AG on 17 December to reorganise the ownership structure.

AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands - The import statistics of the European Union clearly indicate that China regained its leading position as e-bike supplier for Europe's market. At the same time, the market is drowned with cheap and non-compliant China made e-bikes whose sellers shamelessly advertise the presence of a throttle and how to circumvent the maximum support of 25 km/h. How should the industry respond to these market developments?

ALISO VIEJO, USA - The reorganisation of the Pon owned brand GT Bicycles has resulted in much speculation regarding the future of the brand. Some even assumed that GT Bicycles would shut down once all inventory is sold. According to a Pon spokesperson, the decision to restructure this subsidiary was taken, "to lay a solid foundation for its next chapter."

REHE, Germany - Welcoming almost 5,000 people at their head office in Wetter, Germany, bike security company Abus celebrated their 100th anniversary in the first week of December. On this occasion the company also opened their doors to visitors of their newly built high-tech production hall for mobility products.

BERLIN, Germany - Eyeing the upcoming federal elections, the advocacy organization Zukunft Fahrrad (Bicycle Future), issued a position paper campaigning for more political support for the bicycle industry. The new government in Germany will have to make clear policy choices as the cycling industry is not the only sector that's facing challenges and thus calling for support.

荷蘭，宰斯特（ZEIST）－2024年Q3進口至歐盟的電動自行車數量有近20萬輛，幾乎與2023年Q3持平。2024年Q2進口量有所成長，市場呈復甦跡象，不過前九月總數量仍較去年同期減少28%。或許更重要的是，更高的進口額並未彌補進口量下降的部分，情況尚未改善。

在製造回流和提升市場彈性，選擇在歐洲而非亞洲生產的過程中，中歐國家一直以來都扮演著重要角色。雖然沒有其他國家像葡萄牙這樣擔任領頭羊，不過這並不代表其他地區就是這塊產業的配角。近年來，除了有多座新設工廠，現有工廠也正在提高產出品質。

台灣，台中－越來越多企業採用「中國+1」（China +1）採購策略。為滿足客戶需求，台灣領先車架製造商Sunrise目前正在越南開設一座產能達60萬單位的全新工廠，旨在減少碳足跡並提升永續生產能力。

西班牙，馬德里（MADRID）－西班牙自行車產量在10月回升至25,400輛，產值達1,820萬歐元。根據西班牙工業暨觀光部（Ministry of Industry and Tourism）發布資料，與去年同期相比，產量成長23.3%，營收成長16.7%。

PODGRODZIE, Poland - The combination of aluminum frame production, a painting line and assembly on one location gives Romet a rather unique market position. Only a few factories in Europe operate their own frame production. What did the frame production bring to Romet, 5 years after the opening of the facility?

PRATO, Italy - Delivering groceries transporting up to 100kg and covering around 80 kilometers a day demands more from a cargo-bike than what's possible with a standard model. Italian engineering firm Formula and Ello Mobilité took up the challenge and built a fleet of bikes for French supermarket giant, Carrefour.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Folding bike specialist Ahooga has welcomed Tomi Viiala, former CEO of Stromer, as an advisor to the Board. Known for his instrumental role in transforming Stromer into the global leader in speed pedelecs, Viiala will support Ahooga in advising on driving strategic growth across Europe.

VIENNA, Austria - After a three-month restructuring process a new investor has secured the successful restart of Austrian custom-bike builder, Simplon. SOL Capital Management GmbH announced an undisclosed capital injection by one of its funds securing the future of the bike manufacturer.

For reshoring production and improving market flexibility by manufacturing in Europe instead of Asia, the central European countries have always played a key role. Although no country has taken a leading role, like Portugal, that does not mean that the region plays a secondary role within the industry. Several new facilities were started in recent years and existing ones upgraded their output quality.