ESPOO, Finland - In the midst of Finland's abrupt repeal of its tax benefit scheme for company bicycles, which sent shockwaves through the national cycling industry, one company is making the bold choice to expand.
ZEIST, the Netherlands - "A Global Bicycle Purchasing Index will professionalise the sector, as we have seen before in other industries. It gives you a verified outlook on what to expect in the supply chain, and not what you have heard from your connections, rumouring around in the sector." Bike Europe talked with Jeroen Both, former chief supply chain officer and member of the board of management at Accell Group, on the launch of Bike Europe's Global Bicycle Purchasing Index (GBPI) in partnership with Eurobike.
ROOSENDAAL, the Netherlands — The latest H&L Benchmark mapping the bicycle market in the Netherlands indicates a promising start to the year. The turnover increased by 4.1% in the first quarter of 2025. Last year, participating retailers also reported achieving a turnover increase in the first quarter. This was 5.2% compared to the first quarter of 2023.
ZEIST, the Netherlands - The last five years have shown that the bicycle industry is lacking key economic indicators on a global level. The peak in sales in 2020-2021, followed by a market adjustment in 2022 and combined with an extremely high level of orders, resulted in an exceptional surplus of inventory. The industry has still not overcome this fluctuation. An industry-dedicated Purchasing Managers Index could have avoided or at least softened this financial blow.
Germany/the Netherlands - Key economic and sourcing data has turned out to be an essential tool in steering the industry in today's challenging and volatile markets. The bicycle industry currently lacks the information needed to identify future market trends and a sourcing benchmark. Eurobike and Bike Europe will close this gap together in cooperation with the market research institute IFH Cologne in Germany.
ZEIST, the Netherlands - It's May as I write this blog, the time of year when cockchafers (May bugs) emerge from the ground en masse. This phenomenon is remarkable in itself, as the insect has been largely eradicated in most parts of the Netherlands due to pesticide use. Each time, it's a fascinating spectacle. After spending up to five years underground as larvae - being a persistent nuisance to my garden - they get to live above ground for just a few short weeks.
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.
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.
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%.
BERLIN, Germany - A new battery-swapping service and matching e-bike fleet will soon be debuting on the streets of Amsterdam and Berlin, according to a press release by Enyring. The Yamaha subsidiary, established in December 2023, aims to be one of the first to introduce a battery-swapping service in Europe - and it's adding its own e-bike fleet to complement the service.
GENEVA, Switzerland - In what economists are calling a "substantial de-escalation," the United States and China have agreed to a temporary cut of 115 percentage points to reciprocal tariffs on each other's goods. The volatility and unpredictability of the market as a result of the US President Donald Trump's imposition of tariffs is creating a new problem for the bicycle industry, which was nearing stabilisation after previous inventory problems.
TAIPEI, Taiwan - Two Chinese battery manufacturers, Phylion's subsidiary Joycube and Greenway, told Bike Europe of their intent to open factories in Hungary during this year's Taipei Cycle show. As e-bike sales begin to dominate in key European markets and new battery regulations come into force, localised manufacturing and servicing have become a key focal point.
ZURICH, Switzerland - Following successful trials in Zurich, Atlanta and Seattle, Lime is readying its release of a new e-bike to European and North American city streets. The micromobility rideshare company has capitalised on the idea of grab-and-go transport for years with its fleet of e-scooters and e-bikes, and currently boasts a history of more than 750 million rides across hundreds of cities worldwide.
FRANKFURT, Germany - As e-bike companies across Europe grapple with concerns over new European Union considerations to cap e-bike power at a maximum output of 750 watts, some are making their stances on the subject clear.
ARDOOIE, Belgium - Combining customisation, design and advice in a technical solution is probably the best way to describe how this Belgium component manufacturer is positioned on the market. For Curana, 2024 was more than challenging - and not only because of the market situation.
TOKYO, Japan - The bicycle industry in Japan is known to function in isolation, apart from global trends. Domestic sales are largely dominated by low-value, Chinese-made bicycles. But the market is waking up, seeing the benefits of cycling as a means of transport and the positive side effects on health. "The Japan Bicycle Promotion Institute (JBPI) developed various initiatives to open up the market and take it to the next level, including an annual show and market data gathering," said Professor Tetsuya Komagata, President of the Japan Bicycle Promotion Institute (JBPI), in an interview with Bike Europe. Komagata has extensively studied the history of the Japan-China bicycle industry and offered his insights.
DENKENDORF, Germany - As the number of bicycle manufacturers installing the Motor.Gearbox.Unit continues to grow, gearbox specialist, Pinion is placing more emphasis on training and education for retailers in key European markets.
NANTOU, Taiwan - As a company founded in 2020, Yota Cycles has witnessed both sides of the bicycle market pendulum. In the current downswing, the e-bike manufacturer looks positively toward the future.
