BRUSSELS, Belgium - The EU Commission authorised lower VAT rates for a number of labour-intensive services - most notably, house renovation and domestic ...

PARK CITY, USA - Only two and a half year after the three founders sold Kona Bicycles to Kent Outdoors, the new owner has put the iconic Canadian bicycle brand up for sale. Due to drastic market changes since early 2022, Kona, like so many other bicycle brands, could not live up to the high expectations set for the future cycling market.

CAMBIAGO, Italy - 2023 has been a very good year for Colnago Ernesto & C. S.r.l. looking at the publication of their 2023 financial report. The iconic Italian brand hiked their revenue by 33% to €55.7 million.

MONTIGNY-LE-BRETONNEUX, France - The French Alltricks group has reported a 4% increase in sales last year despite the difficult conditions. "In 2023, our business is back on the rise, whereas distribution has suffered greatly. It's likely that we were able to make progress because of our competitors' failures. But our success is also due to the loyalty of our customers, with a returning consumer rate of 75%. This is very important in difficult times," explains Nicolas Burger, co-CEO of the French company.

Even in a lunchroom, a museum or a beer garden, a glance at his smartphone could tell a cyclist that his high-quality e-bike is still in the same place where it was parked. The more expensive the bike, the more reassuring it is to know that it can be tracked at any time, especially when it is out of sight.

STOCKHOLM, Sweden- For the bicycle industry 2023 has been a tough year with over-supply and full warehouses clashing with a dropping consumer demand. Taking a look at the 2023 financial results of Mips AB, GoPro Inc. and BikeBeat & Sports GmbH it becomes clear that last year has been indeed challenging. But the fourth quarter results seem to suggest there is some light at the end of the tunnel.

Gaya Bikes is a French e-bike brand with the aim of simplifying urban life, whether for individuals, couples, or families. As a Velco partner since 2021, the Parisian brand has chosen to connect its bicycles to make a significant impact.

ZEIST, The Netherlands - The combination of a growing demand, an increasing average retail price and rising e-bike thefts have given a boost to the market of digital anti-theft devices. The use of a single rear wheel lock is no longer considered sufficient. Although official statistics on the number of e-bikes stolen is not available in many countries, enhanced anti-theft devices is regarded as essential.

BERLIN, Germany - Online vendor Signa Sports United is taking instant action to face continuing macroeconomic headwinds, oversupply in the market and severe liquidity and profitability challenges. The company announced a series of restructuring measures including the termination or winding down of non-performing assets, the rightsizing of under-performing business units as well as the evaluation of disposals of non-core assets.

FRANKFURT, Germany - German automotive supplier Hirschvogel Holding GmbH (as known as Hirschvogel Automotive Group) already marked its entry into the micromobility field at both IAA Mobility 2021 and Eurobike 2022. At this year's Eurobike the first e-bike drive system as part of a component platform for cargo bikes and urban mobility, created under its own brand name Aximo, caused a stir.

GENUA, Italy - The total revenue of the Italian bicycle and component manufacturers increased by 10% reaching the threshold of € 2 billion in 2022. The increase in turnover went hand in hand with the increase in profitability reports the Italian Banca Ifas in their third annual edition of 'Bicycle Ecosystem'.

Under the motto "Simply Smarter," Prodigee is setting new standards in design and product development with two child seats, the result of a collaboration among a renowned, international team of researchers and designers.

ENNS, Austria - Market research by Eightpins shows the potential of telescopic or dropper seat posts for other bicycle categories besides MTBs. A quick lowering of the saddle enables the rider to stand securely with both feet on the ground. This increases safety and comfort because people can remain seated on the saddle while waiting for the green light. An equally interesting application of telescopic seat posts is for cargo bikes.

Portuguese manufacturer Rodi Industries is in the process of launching a new product line of high-quality aluminium rims. This product innovation comes with the implementation of new technologies in the production process and an increase in capacity.

TAIPEI, Taiwan - Mobility lighting systems specialist Roxim has developed the R7EA rear smart light with multiple functions. This e-bike light provides auto brake and SOS functions for a safer riding experience. The product complies with the German StVZO regulation.

REUTLINGEN, Germany - The Performance Line CX Race Limited Edition is an exclusive evolution of Bosch's Performance Line CX. The new Race mode offers energetic, direct support up to 400% of the rider's power. Riders reach maximum support faster and can use it to the cut-off at 25 km/h.

SYDNEY, Australia - Online bicycle shop and marketplace BikeExchange Limited has announced some top management changes including a new CEO. In its latest financial results, the company, which has been restructuring over the last 12 months, also managed to boost its total revenue by 47.4% to $AU6.58 million (€4.5 million) compared to the previous 2020/21 fiscal year.

The Belgium-based helmet company Lazer has created the world's first fully integrated rotational-impact technology: KinetiCore.

OSAKA, Japan - Increased production capacities in factories in Japan in combination with a booming cycling market, made 2021 a best-ever year for Shimano in both turn-over and profit. Shimano also notes that the economic outlook for 2022 and the electronic components shortages might impact the industry.

ARNHEM, the Netherlands - The announcement last week that Specialized starts to offer online bicycle and e-bike sales and distribute directly to the consumer was to be expected. The question was: when will the American brand decide to launch this new service and why then? Koos de Boer, of Specialized Europe explains.