A repurposed automotive tyre factory on the outskirts of Milan was Pirelli's vision when it strategically decided to re-enter the bicycle tyre market in 2017. Operational since 2022, the factory prides itself on 'Made In Italy' premium quality bicycle tyres. Supported by "the broad shoulders" of the multi-billion-euro turnover of the Pirelli Group, the factory has a maximum capacity of 1.5 million FSC-certified natural rubber tyres annually — with plenty of opportunity for growth. What more reason to visit the factory floor at… Pirelli.

The inventory crisis, which hit the sector since 2022, has hardly been resolved by the international bicycle industry as the next major concern hits the market. Increasing oil prices, raw material shortages, and threats to shipping routes were among the many topics discussed at the Taipei International Cycle Show 2026. The industry gathered for this leading annual event from March 25 to 28 in Taipei, Taiwan.

European Union authorities are ramping up efforts to tackle customs evasion practices, specifically targeting split shipments and post-entry bicycle assembly. According to the European Public Prosecutor's Office's (EPPO) 2025 annual report, post-import assembly operations are becoming an increasingly common tactic to circumvent costly customs duties.

In recent months, we've been shaken once again by two major product-safety incidents. Several brands of infant formula were found to be contaminated with cereulide, a toxin produced by Bacillus cereus. Under certain conditions, it can cause health complaints, and this triggered anxiety and recalls.

The role of product awards at international trade fairs has evolved from a promotional tool to a benchmark. Is the industry integrating key trends such as artificial intelligence (AI) and sustainability into product design? The number of submissions has become an indicator of the industry's performance and level of investment in innovations. All these elements come together in the fourteenth Taipei Cycle d&i Awards, which will be announced on the opening day of the Taipei Cycle Show. Bike Europe sat down with three jury members to discuss how they evaluated the entries.

As expected, the financial performance of leading industry companies shows that 2025 was a challenging year for the bicycle industry. Especially the leading bike manufacturers were down as they had to continue discounting to bring their inventory levels back to healthy levels. Component manufacturers reported stable sales as replacement parts remain in demand, and the OEM order books for 2026 show a moderate increase again.

Although the March Global Bicycle Purchasing Index (GBPI) data points to sustained improvements in new incoming order levels and the own purchasing levels of bicycles, the assessment of the current industry situation remains poor or average at best. Business sentiment has failed to recover from the drop following Eurobike 2025.

The trade show landscape is adrift and in uncertainty since German industry organisations announced that they will pull out of Eurobike. For decades, the show served as a stable base for the bicycle trade. It was the place to be for the industry and was its window to the rest of the world. Since the organisations ZIV and Zukunft Fahrrad turned their back on Eurobike, this seems to be history, especially for the German companies. Even more telling, newcomers are jumping at the opportunity to capture the audience's attention.

Singapore-based DuTech Holding Ltd. is rapidly snapping up a series of companies in the bicycle industry. As a global player in cash-handling machines (ATMs), the company is now also eyeing the bicycle industry, particularly in Europe. As the bicycle industry's financial position has remained weak since the aftermath of the pandemic, this strategic investor is a welcome guest for many companies.

For a brief moment during the pandemic boom of 2020-2021, the cycling industry appeared to enter the mainstream of global mobility investment. Venture capital flowed into direct-to-consumer e-bike brands, and private equity firms took significant stakes in several major European players.

The bicycle industry is entering a new phase of digital maturity. Connected e-bikes, rider apps and smart diagnostics are generating unprecedented volumes of user data, turning bikes into "a data collector on wheels." Bike Europe sat down with Paolo Balboni, an expert European lawyer specialised in privacy, data sharing and cybersecurity law, to better understand how companies can mitigate risk and stay compliant.

United States importers are suffering from whiplash this month after the US Supreme Court struck down tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump, only for them to be replaced within hours by near-identical executive orders. What consequences does this all have for brands trying to do business in the US market, is suing a viable option to recoup some costs?

Turkish bicycle manufacturer Kron was waiting for the right time to buy. In its 25 years, the company had manufactured for a variety of small OEMs, but was looking for a new European brand to invest in. So when Nishiki, a Nordic heritage brand with a signature look and a reputation for quality, came onto the market, Kron jumped at the opportunity.

As the industry seeks to align the supply chain and match demand more effectively, reliable market data becomes essential. To provide the much-needed sourcing information and mid-term outlook, the Global Bicycle Purchasing Index (GBPI) serves as an indicator that anticipates future trends. Bike Europe discussed with Schwalbe's Head of Supply Chain Management, Vanessa Schulte, how the GBPI supports Schwalbe in the planning process.

Steel lies at the heart of vanRaam's production history. This has since been expanded to encompass a unique set of in-house production competencies in its bicycle factory in the Netherlands. The 13,500-square-metre facility features in-house frame production, robotic welding, 3D laser cutting, CNC machining and wheel production. All the reasons for Bike Europe to take a look at 'The Factory Floor' of adaptive bike manufacturer… vanRaam.

In the competitive global economy, the European Union (EU) continues to expand and modernise its network of trade agreements to promote economic growth, strengthen geopolitical ties and set global trade standards. Recently, agreements were concluded with India, Mercosur and Singapore. For the bicycle industry, the agreement with India was the most striking. What can the industry expect?

The bicycle industry was not a preferred target for financial investors when the e-bike market entered its growth phase in 2010; its growth rate and return prospects were not as attractive as those of e-commerce companies, for example. After 2010, financial investors stepped in, but many have since left the industry. What's next?

As the e-bike industry prepares for the impending battery regulatory overhaul in the European Union, readyness and compliance are becoming increasingly important topics. Bike Europe has created a working timeline of key deadlines related to the battery regulations to support companies as they position themselves within the new framework.