RODGAU, Germany - The new owner of Rocky Mountain Bicycles, Chaos Sports Inc., is pushing forward in the European market. With the takeover of long-standing distributor BikeAction GmbH, which serves Germany, Austria, the Benelux, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Slovenia, the Canadians are reaffirming their strong commitment to Europe.

WARSAW, Poland - Today, Poland is a European manufacturing hub for bicycles and e-bikes — not a niche player but one of the continent's top producers. Polish factories produced around 1 million bicycles annually in the early 2020s, putting the country among the EU's five largest producers and giving it a meaningful share of regional supply chains.

TAIPEI, Taiwan - The pressure on Taiwan to align its labour governance with international standards is increasing. The recent United States import ban on Giant Group is not seen as an isolated case. Many firms in Taiwan's manufacturing sectors, which rely heavily on high-intensity, low-wage labour, engage in practices that constitute forced labour, the Taiwan Human Rights Commission said in a statement.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Ahooga, the Belgian folding e-bike brand, has raised €5.5 million in a new funding round aimed at developing its Max folding bike platform and expanding its international footprint.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Cowboy's relationship with French brand partner Rebirth Group is evolving once again as Rebirth prepares to become a majority shareholder of the e-bike brand. An 80% stake in the company is anticipated. While the exact details are still under wraps, Cowboy's spokesperson did confirm to Bike Europe that discussions with Rebirth are progressing "very positively."

Germany/the Netherlands - What is the market outlook for 2026? This question was on everybody's lips at the Taichung Bike Week which took place from 16-19 September. After three years of predicting that next year would be better, industry peers have become cautious in providing any forecasts. The Global Bicycle Purchasing Index (GBPI), introduced by Eurobike, Bike Europe and IFH Cologne, provides the industry with an indicator which looks ahead at expected industry trends.

HONGKONG - Folding bike specialist Dahon Tech (02543.HK) officially debuted on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange today. It even garnered the attention of the Hong Kong capital market as a 'Star Stock' of 2025. On its first day of trading, Dahon Tech opened at 67.5 RMB (€ 8.07), a 36.4% increase from its listing price of 49.5 RMB (€ 5.92). The high and low reached 69 RMB (€ 8.25) and 56.4 RMB (€ 6.74), respectively, before closing at 60 RMB (€ 7.17). Half-day trading volume was 6.7537 million shares, totalling 455 million RMB (€ 54.4 million).

UTRECHT, the Netherlands - Cargo bikes are still regarded as pivotal in the transformation of urban logistics. Unlike the bicycle and e-bike industries, the cargo bike market is primarily business-to-business and new concepts are often developed in collaboration with B2B partners. While cargo bikes are displayed at the fringes of bicycle or logistics trade shows, the market remains highly promising.

PARIS, France - This was the question looking to be answered at the recently held Summit Series in Paris, supported by CIE's Women in Cycling expert group. The event, focusing on the retention and recruitment of women in the bicycle industry, hoped to 'lead the change' in correcting the current imbalance in the sector. With cross-spectrum representatives from industry and academia present, the conclusion was that progress is slow, and opportunities are being missed.

LA MASSANA, Andorra - The mountain bike brand Commencal is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Started in 2000, founder Max Commencal focused on designing and producing high-quality bikes, particularly for gravity-focused mountain biking disciplines. How does Max perceive the market today, and what can we expect from this Pyrenean mountain biking pioneer?

TAICHUNG, Taiwan - In response to the Withhold Release Order (WRO) issued by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on Giant bicycles made in Taiwan, the company formed an emergency response team to resolve the situation as quickly as possible. "We are committed to openness and transparency, and have taken multiple actions," the Giant Group wrote in a statement issued today.

GIRONA, Spain - The Spanish bicycle industry is facing 2025 with moderate optimism. 38.9% of companies have reported increased turnover in the first half of the year, while only 25.9% reported declines, according to the results of AMBE's second bicycle sector barometer, presented at Sea Otter Europe. Additionally, a new €20 million government subsidy has been secured to boost e-bike sales in the country.

WASHINGTON DC, United States - The number of bicycles imported into the United States in the first half of 2025 has dropped 25% year-on-year. When looking at Q2 specifically this is a 35% drop compared to 2024. The impact of tariffs and trade wars has seen China's relevance as US bicycle supplier slip considerably.

ROOSENDAAL, the Netherlands - In Q2, from April to June, the Dutch bicycle market turnover rate rose significantly, averaging around 10% per month, according to figures from national consultancy group H&L Benchmark Group. This translates to 7.7% turnover growth for the first half of 2025, compared to the same period last year. In addition, about half of the H&L Benchmark Group is seeing a further reduction in excessive inventory.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - During the first six months of 2025, 312,000 e-bikes were imported into the European Union, the latest data from Eurostat shows. This is a 9% drop compared to the same period last year. As predicted, the positive signs of a full market recovery in Q1 have not continued into Q2. As Taiwan struggles to regain its dominance as the European e-bike supplier, Cambodia and China continue to increase their share of the market.

AMERSFOORT, the Netherlands - The new European Union guidelines on battery repairs will soon take effect, but whether the bicycle industry is sufficiently prepared remains to be seen. NOWOS founder Prins Doornekamp said he is surprised by the limited knowledge among both manufacturers and bicycle retailers.

SUZHOU, China - Over the past 22 years, Bafang has consistently prioritised technological innovation as fundamental to the company's development. With this approach the motor manufacturer has successfully navigated the storm of the previous years. "Whether in good times or bad, demand-driven innovation is urgently needed," CEO Qinghua Wang explains to Bike Europe.

REUTLINGEN, Germany - Since establishing Bosch eBike Systems within the Bosch Group in 2009, the company has leveraged technological competencies from automotive electronics and sensor systems to power tool battery technology. For Bosch eBike Systems CEO Claus Fleischer, their systematic technology transfer approach, building on Bosch's foundational expertise in electric drive systems, is one of the three key elements of their success within the bicycle industry.

TAICHUNG, Taiwan - Serving a diverse range of clients has been a key strategy at saddle manufacturer Velo. In pursuit of improved product quality and innovative technologies, Velo has always invested in its R&D capabilities. In an interview for Bike Europe's Industry Insider series, Velo Enterprise CEO Ann Chen offered insights into Velo's market perspective and the company's future direction.