SCHRAMBERG, Germany - When presenting its 2024 half-year figures, the high-precision gearbox parts and components manufacturer hGears AG took a cautious view of the financial year. Looking further ahead, the stock-listed company sees strong growth again in the medium term 'particularly in the e-bike and e-mobility business areas'.
FRANKFURT, Germany - A newcomer on the scene at this year's Eurobike, was drone manufacturer DJI with the launch of its Avinox drive system. The lightweight, 105 Nm torque drive system was debuted on the company's 'incubator e-MTB brand' Amflow which was launched in 2023. With lengthy queues to test the product, it was one of the most eye-catching innovations at this year's Eurobike.
HEERENVEEN, the Netherlands - The uncertain pace of the reorganization to restore its profit (EBITDA), the excess inventories in the market and weak consumer demand, and a deep-discount environment made Fitch Ratings decide to downgrade Accell Group from CCC to CCC-. According to the credit rating agency, "the weak operating performance, tight liquidity and negative free cash flow results in unsustainable credit metrics."
SKI, Norway - reTyre claims to be the first manufacturer able to mass produce pneumatic tyres without rubber. "Our uniquely patented production method differs significantly from the existing production process that takes place today with vulcanised rubber," says Ben Evans, CCO of reTyre. In this interview he unlocks the potential to reduce the carbon footprint of vulcanised tyres massively.
GEDERSDORF, Austria - Two-wheel mobility product supplier, KSR Group, has successfully developed a restructuring plan since applying for a chapter 11 status earlier this year. With this, 140 jobs have been retained, independent business decisions can be made again and there are even talks with potential investors, reports the company from Austria.
HUTTWIL, Switzerland - All market indicators have made clear that the bike boom of 2020-2021 is over and implications for the industry can be expected. Renowned Swiss manufacturer Flyer has been hit hard and announced the lay-off of around 80 employees.
GEDERSDORF, Austria - Two-wheeled wholesaler and importer, KSR Group, has applied for a court-supervised restructuring procedure. Due to increased energy prices, high inflation and the lack of consumer purchasing power, the economic situation changed drastically within the last year in the markets the family-run company operates in.
SCHRAMBERG, Germany - In the first half of 2023, precision gear and component manufacturer hGears AG posted total sales of €57.16 million, a year-on-year decline of 19.4%. This is the result of flat sales in its e-mobility and e-tools business units.
PLOCHINGEN, Germany - Decathlon Germany posted another record result in 2022. This time breaking the €1 billion sales mark for the first time. E-commerce and a focus on integration of circularity services played a role.
WAARDENBURG, the Netherlands - GreenMo Group, which leases e-bikes and electric scooters to prominent delivery outlets in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria and England has been declared bankrupt. According to the trustee, the company misjudged the growth opportunities.
BERLIN, Germany - Urban logistics e-cargobike manufacturer Onomotion has closed its Series A, with €6 million in equity and €15 million in debt. "We will use the debt to build more vehicles and scale our operations," co-founder and CEO Beres Seelbach.
MATTIGHOFEN, Austria - Despite aggravated delivery problems, Austrian two-wheeler giant Pierer Mobility AG was able to record a positive sales value performance in the first six months of the year. As far as unit sales are concerned, however, the demand for e-bikes could not quite be met.
HELSINKI, Finland - The market has seen a surge in cargo bike manufacturers in the past few years, each taking their own approach. Finnish start-up Ouca claims to have built-up a new concept for cargo bikes from scratch. "We have abandoned traditional bicycle parts in all the critical places," says Ouca founder Tuomas Alapuranen.
PARIS, France - E-bike subscription service company, Motto, has raised €4 million from Founders Future and Cassius Family, two capital fund companies which have been involved in earlier financing rounds of the company. The investment will support the expansion of the start-up's €75 per month subscription service beyond Paris and into Europe.
SCHRAMBERG, Germany - Stating a challenging business environment, German high-precision transmission parts and components manufacturer hGears AG, saw its young e-mobility business unit swallowing a double-digit 15.4% sales decrease in the first quarter of 2022. However, the publicly traded company can look to the future with confidence.
MALLABIA, Spain - Basque bicycle cooperative, Orbea, reached a record sales volume of €282 million in 2021, with 81% coming from export markets. Last year, the cooperative also expanded its operational structure by adding 170 new jobs to its group and is very optimistic for the future.
MECHELEN, Belgium - Helmet manufacturer, Lazer, has gone back to the drawing board on impact absorption protection and developed a new patented new technology, KinetiCore. Inspired by the crumple zones in cars, the technology offers integrated rotational impact protection and provides what they call "next-level brain protection."
BERLIN, Germany - With EIT InnoEnergy SE, a new strategic investor and partner has joined Swobbee GmbH, the multi-vendor, multi-modal battery swapping station for all types of small electric vehicles. While EIT is putting €3 million of growth capital into the start-up, the current existing investor is also adding around the same amount on top.
PLOCHINGEN, Germany - It wasn't easy at first for the world's leading sports chain Decathlon to conquer the German market, but the French have learned quickly. For several years now, they have been reaping the fruits of their labor. With current expansion plans setting the tone, Decathlon Germany's 2021 financial figures underline that they are currently doing everything right.
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