VIENNA, Austria - "It's not a helmet, it's an airbag." That's the tagline for the Hövding 4, the new debut model for the Swedish brand now owned by the Austrian iSi Group. The latest wearable airbag design has been hyped as a complete reboot from previous models, the last of which came under fire for safety concerns.

As the European bike industry adjusts to post-boom market realities, manufacturers face fluctuating demand, excess inventory, and pressure to optimise operations. Flexible, scalable assembly solutions are key to adapting production capacity up or down—ensuring resilience and efficiency in an unpredictable market.

GOTHENBURG, Sweden - Swedish e-bike manufacturer Ecoride has scooped two Red Dot Design Awards for its latest models, Ambassador 4 and Tripper 4, in recognition of their Scandinavian design and integrated GPS security. The jury cited the e-bikes' clean, urban-focused frame design and seamless look as central to their Red Dot wins.

STOCKHOLM, Sweden -Recent figures from the Swedish industry association Cykelbranschen show that bicycle sales volumes have almost halved in the last 11 years, and the decline is ongoing. These market trends have been recently confirmed by some leading local bike retailers.

UPPLANDS VÄSBY, Sweden - With the complete takeover of Swedish suspension specialist Öhlins Racing AB, Italian brake expert Brembo is making the largest acquisition in the company's history, according to its own statements. Öhlins had been part of US automotive supplier Tenneco Inc. since the end of 2018. Subject to the usual regulatory approvals, the takeover, which was announced on 11 October, is expected to be completed by the beginning of 2025.

STOCKHOLM, Sweden - French sporting goods chain store retail giant Decathlon has announced that it will cease its business operations in Sweden at the end of this month. "The current global economic situation and its impact on our activities in Sweden have forced us to sadly make this difficult decision," a Decathlon spokesperson told Bike Europe.