PARK City, Utah - Kona Bicycles was a noticeable last-minute absence at this week's Sea Otter event in California. The brand pulled down their booth on Wednesday and left the site raising concerns about the financial stability of the company. On Thursday, brand owner Kent Outdoors announced the appointment of a new CFO.
WASHINGTON, US - Imports continue to dominate the US bike market, with China being the largest source of imported bikes. Although the import market share rose slightly last year, the actual number of imported units dropped 33% last year as American consumers cut back on spending. Although not yet meeting their potential, e-bikes are increasing their presence on the market.
Fifteen years after introducing its bicycle belts in Europe, Gates is preparing for the next 15 years of growth by increasing belt production in Europe and opening a new factory in Turkey to support the European market. Hands-on engineering support, new technical resources, and sustainability are the focus of the company, explains Joe Menzel, Vice President and General Manager, Gates Global Mobility.
MIAMI, USA - Known primarily for its shared e-scooter service across cities globally, Bird has announced that it is restructuring to "strengthen its financial position". Although it will continue to operate as usual, the company has filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection in Florida. Bird Europe and Bird Canada are not part of the filing and also continue to operate as normal.
SEATTLE, USA - Seawall Capital, the private equity owner of Kent Watersports, announced the take-over of Kona Bicycles together with the company's rebrand to Kent Outdoors. This transformation and acquisition signal Kent's expanded focus on the full line of outdoor recreation activities.
BOULDER, United States - Tim Blumenthal, president of US organisation, PeopleForBikes is retiring after 16 years at the helm. Having spent the last four decades working in the bike industry he will hand over the reins to Jenn Dice, the organisation's current COO as of July 1, 2020.
Amidst global shifts, disruptions in supply chains, and a renewed focus on environmental responsibility, many bicycle industry leaders are re-evaluating their reliance on overseas production sites. In the midst of these shifts, Poland is positioning itself as an increasingly attractive hub for investment and manufacturing. Numerous success stories reveal that, from family-established ventures to innovative startups, Polish companies are making significant strides, establishing a strong presence both at home and throughout Europe.
BAD URACH, Germany - Reshoring is the topic of the day in Europe's bicycle industry, all the more so with supply chains in the Far East being disrupted since the Corona pandemic. Magura is one of the companies who didn't outsource their complete production to the Far-East. They are now reaping the benefits of their loyalty to its workplace in southern Germany.
Supreme Dutch, a bicycle tyre innovator based in the Netherlands, has unveiled its next generation airless tyre specifically designed for bicycles. The new patented product is aimed at transforming the bike-sharing, food delivery, and cargo bike transportation sectors, where reliability, durability, and minimal maintenance are critical. With over a decade of research and development, the company is known for its focus on airless solutions for urban (E-) mobility. The company collaborated with tyre brand Schwalbe - Ralf Bohle for nearly five years before branching out independently to expand its reach globally.
E-mobility manufacturer Jivr has entered into a strategic partnership with Pendlr, formerly known as Kruitbosch, a prominent name in the European bicycle industry. This alliance facilitates Jivr's debut in the Benelux and French markets and presents an opportunity for further innovation in the micromobility sector.
In 2022, the global e-bike market is poised to hit approximately 36.5 million units expects Yadea. It is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of nearly 10% between 2022 and 2030, reaching close to 77.3 million e-bikes by 2030. With this potential in mind, Yadea ventured into the e-bike market 5 years ago, thanks to its 2 national CNAS laboratory, and the global over 1000 R&D staff.
In today's fast-paced world, where a healthy lifestyle and physical activity are integral to daily life, we seek more opportunities to spend our free time actively and joyfully. That's precisely where Leader Fox comes in: they try to help people live life to the fullest, by offering a wide range of bicycles, including e-bikes. In this article, we'll be looking at Leader Fox's new 2023 collection.
As the e-bike market continues to grow, choosing the right components becomes more crucial for brands aiming to deliver the best ride experience. One name emerging as a strong contender in the realm of innovative e-bike components is AUTORQ. Based in Portugal and Singapore, the component developer is making significant strides in the industry, focusing exclusively on torque sensing technology.
BRUSSELS, Belgium - The European Commission wants to increase the recycling volumes of raw materials used in permanent magnets, including e-bikes motors. This is one of the goals of a new regulation proposed by the Commission recently, and that is going to be discussed both in the Parliament and in the Council soon.
Darfon Electronics Corp is the the parent company of electric bicycle brand BESV. As such, it is committed to the cycling industry and its further development.
The global e-bike market should reach more than $120 billion in 2030, with an annual increase of 11.5%. If the attractiveness of the electric bicycle is no longer in question, there are still challenges to be met to improve the experience of cyclists. One of them is maintenance, more difficult to manage on an electric bike, requiring regular servicing and the frequent intervention of a professional.
Leader Fox introduced a lot of changes this year. They have taken a significant step forward by installing a new suspended transport system in the production hall and have presented a new collection of e-bikes.
STOCKHOLM, Sweden - myFC, the Nasdaq listed company which was active in micro fuel cells and hydrogen has filed for bankruptcy. This a turnaround from earlier this year when the company made headlines in the e-bike industry press with an eye-catching partnership.
Connected e-bikes offer way more than track and trace to please riders. They create opportunities to deeply transform the cycling industry and make it a sector of excellence. Connectivity improves performances and processes by digitising and interconnecting all players across the industry.
Akku Vision GmbH is a prominent player when it comes to supplying replacement batteries for e-bikes. However, the German company is also increasingly focusing on OEM products. With the market growing and expanding enormously, coupled with challenges in the supply chain, Akku Vision GmbH is investing in its facilities in Europe.
