BRUSSELS, Belgium - Urban e-bike start-up Cowboy SA announced an investment round via British crowdfunding platform Crowdcube. The brand's community of approximately 45,000 registered fans can step in exclusively as of today via the company's website. The crowdfunding campaign for the public will start on 12 December.

TAICHUNG, Taiwan -Giant Manufacturing Co, Ltd. announces a new brand structure to consolidate resources and function as a parent company of multiple business units and brands. According to the Giant statement the new strategy implies "To shift from building a strong brand to building a strong brand portfolio".

REHAU, Germany - Car parts manufacturer and polymer & plastics expert Rehau AG announced the termination of its e-bike brand Nuvelos.

YPRES, Belgium - Minerva Cycling is the new name for all activities of Formula Cycling and Minerva Bike Trading, which have now been combined. Minerva Bike Trading used to focus on distribution to IBDs while wholesalers supply was the core business of Formula Cycling.

TAICHUNG, Taiwan - Supply chain constraints in combination with shortages of components and shipping containers have disrupted distribution from Taiwan to Europe and the US. As a result, Merida Industry Co Ltd reported a decline in shipments and revenue last month.

JAKOBSTAD, Finland - Finnish bicycle component manufacturer Herrmans Bike Components, also reports exceptionally busy times on the back of the bike boom. In addition to this, the company is in the midst of a bigger organisational development and generational shift as it aims to strengthen its operations for years to come. Investments in people and technology are now a key focus.

SERZEDO, Portugal - Europe's largest bicycle producer in units, RTE, is strategically expanding its business. On the one hand, an e-bike factory for its own young e-bike brand Beeq as well as for (OEM-) production has been started by the Portuguese near the existing bicycle factory in Serzedo. Furthermore, in Poland another RTE factory is currently under construction.

PRAGUE, Czech Republic - Crussis Electrobikes s.r.o., the Czech manufacturer of e-bikes and tricycles is set to double its production capacity with a new facility on the outskirts of Prague. Currently under construction, the new facility will house e-bike assembly and storage facilities.

SUZHOU, China - Bafang is investing in a new facility for the development and production of high-end battery packs. 'Bafang New Energy' is the project name of the third wholly owned subsidiary in China created by the e-drive systems manufacturer.

After a few years of development, Tracefy, a scaleup from Delft, the Netherlands, had its commercial breakthrough in 2019. Since then, Tracefy's enthusiastic founders have seen their turnover double each year, and they have great growth expectations for this year again. For 2022, growth is even expected to triple.

MORGAN HILL, USA - As a model range, the name 'Globe' is not new to Specialized, but with the creation of a new business unit baring the same name, the company will target an all new group of customers.

TAICHUNG, Taiwan - The temporary closure of Giant's four factories in Kunshan, close to Shanghai, due to the local lockdown restrictions is giving the company a hard time. "It is a hell of job," said Giant Group Chairperson Bonnie Tu in an interview with Bloomberg last Tuesday. And she doesn't expect the situation to improve on the short term.

BRISTOL, England - On the back of success in direct to customer sales, UK bicycle manufacturer Temple Cycles is aiming to establish a B2B dealer network through partner stores, both in the UK and worldwide. The company says "the move will be pivotal in allowing more customers to test ride the bikes and support their local bike retailers."

REDDITCH, UK - A couple of months ago Halfords, the UK's largest bricks and mortar cycle retailer, posted Q2 results for the 13 weeks to July 3rd showing an incredible 57.1% like-for-like growth in cycling sales. Now they've reported a 230% year-on-year increase in e-bike and scooter sales. But will the 'Covid effect' last?

GEDERSDORF, Austria - Another well-known motorbike giant enters the e-bike market. To mark the brand's 90th anniversary, parent company KSR Group GmbH is launching a range of ten Malaguti labelled e-bike models.

ANNECY, France - The new owner of Mavic SAS, the French Bourrelier Group wants to refocus the brand on its core business: wheel sets. Co-chaired by Yoann and Jean-Michel Bourrelier, they want to bring back innovation at Mavic but they must also rationalise the other product categories: shoes, helmets and bike wear. They also intend to increase their OEM activity by being more attentive to manufacturers.

OBERWANGEN, Switzerland - myStromer AG reports double-digit growth across its markets and the sale of over 12,000 speed pedelecs in 2019. According to a company statement, last year's sales exceeded targeted figures.

NIJVERDAL, the Netherlands - 'Design that makes your smile'. That's how the international jury described the product range of Urban Iki child seats when rewarding it with an iF Gold award this spring.

TAIPEI, Taiwan - Fritz Jou Mfg. Co. Ltd was among the first overseas companies who announced to invest in a production facility in the Bike Value Portugal. Bike Europe had the opportunity to talk exclusively with Fritz Jou Mfg. Co, Ltd founder and President Fritz Jou about his European ambitions.

SCHWEINFURT, Germany - Accell Group announces to have incorporated a new sales structure in the DACH region (Germany, Austria and Switzerland). Goal of the integration of strengths and competences is to offer the company's specialized trade partners a more effective and better service.