BRUSSELS, Belgium - The merger of Cycling Industries Europe (CIE) and CONEBI has come one step closer, with the members of CIE endorsing a change to the association's statutes. The decision taken at the CIE general assembly this week reflects a shared commitment by both organisations to strengthen the industry's collective voice, enhance policy influence and ensure that cycling remains at the heart of Europe's green, digital and industrial transitions.

TAICHUNG, Taiwan - In the wake of forced labour accusations from the United States, Giant Group is extending its 'Zero Recruitment Fee Policy'. Originally in effect from January 1, 2025, this will now apply to all migrant workers currently employed at the company in Taiwan. "This latest expansion reflects the Group's ongoing institutionalisation and practices of human rights protection and fair employment," the company states.

NANTES, France - French start-up Velco is inviting the public to become shareholders as it opens its capital through a €800,000 participatory fundraising campaign. Part of the operation is hosted on the investment platform Tudigo, running from October to November 2025, with an initial target of €400,000.

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.

POZZOLEONE, Italy - Sustainability, production efficiency and manufacturing in Europe spurred investments at the Selle Royal Group in recent years. The Stracciatella project, launched in November 2024, was a big step forward in sustainability, but also in quality control. During a visit, Bike Europe got all the details on this project and more.

TAIPEI, TAIWAN - Around 150,000 e-bike units were exported from Taiwan to the European Union in the first nine months of 2025, the latest customs data shows. This is a 3% increase compared to the same period last year - a welcome sign of market stabilisation for the Taiwanese supply chain. However, total exports reached just over 270,000 units from January to September, representing a 3% year-on-year decline. The spotlight is now on how this develops as the year closes, with the rollout of United States tariffs and human rights accusations on Taiwanese companies bringing disruptions to trade.

GIRONA, Spain - "We're not just replacing derailleurs — we're replacing complexity," says Marc Barceló, CEO and founder of Niche Mobility. The new player in the e-bike system market has built a fully digital drivetrain from scratch and is on course for an OEM launch in model year 2027. A significant step forward for the start-up was the display of prototypes at this year's Sea Otter Europe in its hometown of Girona.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

PARIS, France - A small company from western France could soon shake up the global e-bike industry. Vendée-based Anod has taken a radical step: it is phasing out lithium-ion batteries, the standard in almost every e-bike, and replacing them with what it calls a safer and more sustainable solution — hybrid supercapacitors.

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?

Downhill racing has always been the crucible for cycling innovation — a place where extreme terrain, speed, and stress test every component of the bike. For Gates, the pioneer of belt-driven drivetrains, this environment has acted as the ultimate proving ground.

CHANGHUA, Taiwan - The bicycle industry in Taiwan is implementing various measures in response to the US blockade of Giant. Also, the country's second largest bicycle manufacturer Merida has stated the company strictly complies with Taiwan's labour laws. Merida emphasised its commitment to taking decisive action to fully align with internationally recognised labour and human rights standards.