No other industry relies so much on the branding of its components as the bicycle industry does. The final products in the shops are seldomly referred to as a recollection of well-known parts with a bike brand name on the down tube. This structure originates from the extreme fragmentation of the bicycle industry. Except for Raleigh, almost all brands had only national or regional distribution, making it difficult to invest in innovations. The component manufacturers adopted multinational or global distribution earlier, giving them a head start in branding compared with the bicycle brands.

As eBike drive systems grow increasingly sophisticated, the ability to diagnose, update, and repair quickly has become a defining part of a positive customer experience. At Bafang, service is a strategic pillar, its philosophy is simple: "Service is about keeping riders riding."

Cycling can still attract interest from both institutional buyers and non-institutional investors, as the heavily oversubscribed Dahon IPO at the Hong Kong Stock Exchange showed last September. Amidst all the excitement on the exhibition floor of the Taipei Cycle Show, Bike Europe had the opportunity to speak with Dahon's owner, Dr David Hon, about his company's strategy.

A persistent and far-reaching campaign by the United States trade organisation PeopleForBikes to prevent bicycles and e-bikes from becoming subject to high metal tariffs has paid off. US President Donald Trump announced in early April that the bicycle industry would not be subject to the new Section 232 steel and aluminium tariffs, which would have cost manufacturers millions on imported steel and aluminium products.

Although the number of bicycles delivered in Switzerland fell again by around 25,000 units in 2025, the trend in sports bicycles and e-bikes provided a ray of hope, as sales in these categories started to rise again. Looking solely at specialist retailers, excluding major distributors, rising figures were recorded in almost all sectors. However, the Swiss bicycle suppliers' association, Velosuisse, still refers to being in a 'consolidation phase.'

Finnish bicycle component manufacturer, Herrmans Bike Components, has acquired the technology and business from Taiwanese lighting specialist Roxim Technologies. The move will see Herrmans expand its presence in Asia and broaden its offering in lighting solutions. The transition is now at full speed and Herrmans will officially take over the business from 1 May.

A repurposed automotive tyre factory on the outskirts of Milan was Pirelli's vision when it strategically decided to re-enter the bicycle tyre market in 2017. Operational since 2022, the factory prides itself on 'Made In Italy' premium quality bicycle tyres. Supported by "the broad shoulders" of the multi-billion-euro turnover of the Pirelli Group, the factory has a maximum capacity of 1.5 million FSC-certified natural rubber tyres annually — with plenty of opportunity for growth. What more reason to visit the factory floor at… Pirelli.

A total of 1,093,478 bicycles were sold in Spain in 2025, just 0.7% fewer than in 2024, according to data presented by industry association AMBE and Cofidis. Total bicycle sales in Spain generated €1.4 billion in 2025, a 9% increase compared to 2024. This growth was mainly driven by the mid-range and high-end segments, particularly e-bikes, which accounted for 21.5% of units sold and 35.2% of bicycle sales turnover.

The worldwide bike market experienced another turbulent year in 2025. Under these circumstances, "Pon.Bike stabilised its turnover at around €2 billion and remained a profitable business with positive operating earnings," owner Pon Holdings announced yesterday. One of the industry's largest bicycle manufacturers states that business again proved to be resilient thanks to its diversified portfolio and market position.

Scott has announced the appointment of Hsuan Boon Tan as co‑CEO, serving alongside the existing co‑CEO Pascal Ducrot. Hsuan Boon Tan will be based at the company's global headquarters in Switzerland. The company writes that, "the appointment marks the company's progression into a new phase focused on sustained growth and strengthened overall economics following a successful stabilisation period after several turbulent years for the industry."

The inventory crisis, which hit the sector since 2022, has hardly been resolved by the international bicycle industry as the next major concern hits the market. Increasing oil prices, raw material shortages, and threats to shipping routes were among the many topics discussed at the Taipei International Cycle Show 2026. The industry gathered for this leading annual event from March 25 to 28 in Taipei, Taiwan.

That things are truly looking up again for Germany's online bicycle retailer Bike24 Holding AG was demonstrated by the first three-quarter sales results as well as the publicly traded company's stock market development during 2025. Having been thoroughly battered it is no coincidence that Bike24 stock skyrocketed last year by 170.9%. The company now has its sights set on continued growth in 2026.

As e-bikes evolve from largely mechanical products into complex electronic systems, after-sales service is no longer an added benefit. The ability to diagnose, maintain and update systems throughout their lifecycle has become a baseline requirement, increasingly influencing how brands and dealers evaluate long-term product viability.

Chogori Technology, a manufacturer of high-performance connectors, has secured UL approval for its e-bike connectors, which the Chinese-based company says is a significant advancement in electric mobility safety.

European Union authorities are ramping up efforts to tackle customs evasion practices, specifically targeting split shipments and post-entry bicycle assembly. According to the European Public Prosecutor's Office's (EPPO) 2025 annual report, post-import assembly operations are becoming an increasingly common tactic to circumvent costly customs duties.

GfK research in the Netherlands, Germany, France and Belgium highlights four trends in purchasing behaviour and priorities when buying an e-bike. The e-bike is no longer just a recreational luxury but is increasingly becoming a serious mobility alternative that influences daily travel behaviour.

In recent months, we've been shaken once again by two major product-safety incidents. Several brands of infant formula were found to be contaminated with cereulide, a toxin produced by Bacillus cereus. Under certain conditions, it can cause health complaints, and this triggered anxiety and recalls.

The Dutch bicycle market has enjoyed favourable market conditions throughout 2025. According to the annual report from H&L Accountancy's benchmark group, average retail revenue increased by 5.3% across bicycle retailers in the Netherlands. However, at the same time, the gross margin decreased by 0.9 percentage points, bringing it to 28.0% as labour costs put pressure on margins.

Finnish bike-leasing platform Vapaus Group has expanded into the Asia-Pacific region with the launch of its New Zealand subsidiary, Northride. This move marks the company's first steps outside Europe, and reflects Vapaus' ambition to scale its workplace cycling model globally.

Bicycle lighting system manufacturer Supernova Design GmbH has filed a lawsuit in German court against Sate-Lite (Foshan) Plastics Co., Ltd for allegedly infringing on Supernova's patent. Patent disputes can often be time-consuming and costly endeavours, but they are vital to the protection of innovation and business for companies like Supernova.