BERLIN, Germany - Germany as a manufacturing base might not be the most logical choice for the bicycle industry when looking at the rising cost of labour. The strategic location in central Europe and the long heritage of production and engineering has always given the country a strong position in the industry. A group of industry leaders spoke out whether Germany is losing its appeal as a business location for bicycle companies or 'Made in Germany' is a concept for the future.

MÜHLTAL, Germany - Riese & Müller is setting new standards in sustainable logistics by becoming the first bicycle manufacturer to adopt reusable packaging for e-bike shipments across Europe. Following successful multi-month trials, the BikeBox will now be the standard packaging for over 1,000 dealers in Europe, significantly reducing environmental impact.

KORTRIJK, Belgium - The ambition to create a global distribution network was one of striking parts of Tenway's vision when they rushed onto the market in 2021. Today the brand has established its position and built a network throughout Europe. Tenways's area sales manager Europe Tony Vos elaborated on the outlook of the market for this young lifestyle brand.

COLOGNE, Germany - Taiwanese bicycle manufacturer Tern has announced plans to establish its first distribution office in Europe. Dubbed Tern ZE, the Cologne-based facility will begin operating on 1 July 2025 and should enable the firm to better support its customers in Europe.

FREIBURG, Germany - Bravobike GmbH, the subsidiary of leasing pioneer JobRad has signed an agreement with Garbe Industrial Real Estate GmbH, which claims to be a "specialist for logistics real estate and light industry in Germany and Europe." The agreement will see Bravobike make use of a 23,500 sqm property in Kabelsketal, Germany to accommodate the strong growth in the number of ex-lease bicycles that will become available for the second-hand market in the coming years.

EINDHOVEN, The Netherlands - Shimano Europe is extending its cooperation with GXO, a company that manages outsourced supply chains and warehousing, to perform logistic services across Europe. The component manufacturer will now move its warehouse operations in Belgium to GXO's facility in Venray, the Netherlands.

Over the past decade, JCL Logistics has grown into perhaps the largest logistics service provider for the bicycle industry in the Benelux and West Germany. With the opening of a new storage facility for lithium-ion batteries, the company is set to deliver even more tailored services.

HAMBURG, Germany - 82% of supply chain professionals in China expect container prices to rise in January 2025, according to a survey by Container xChange. The survey also highlighted that supply chain participants are preparing for three key disruptions this year; tariffs, geopolitical risks, and structural overcapacity. These disruptions are expected to keep demand and supply dynamics volatile well into 2025 with a potential impact on the bicycle industry.

ALISO VIEJO, USA - The reorganisation of the Pon owned brand GT Bicycles has resulted in much speculation regarding the future of the brand. Some even assumed that GT Bicycles would shut down once all inventory is sold. According to a Pon spokesperson, the decision to restructure this subsidiary was taken, "to lay a solid foundation for its next chapter."

FRANKFURT, Germany - The World Bicycle Industrial Association (WBIA) has launched a new supply chain project aimed at guiding the cycling industry towards a sustainable future. The Sustainable Supply Chain (SSC) Operating Model was validated during the WBIA's general assembly held during Eurobike Frankfurt 2024 and is built around the three pillars of education, energy and ecodesign.

ZEIST, the Netherlands - Eight prominent cycling industry companies have come together to co-develop and launch a Climate Action Training tailored to the cycling industry. The course aims to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the industry's global supply chains.

OBERWANGEN, Switzerland - Yamaha was the first e-bike brand this month which announced it was pulling out of the US market due to oversupply and slow demand. It turns out that the Japanese are not the only one. myStromer AG also announced it will discontinue its business in the US and Canada with immediate effect.

ROSSANO VENETO, Italy - Performance brand Wilier Triestina is adding to its expansion strategy in the Asian market. Youn Live, a Taiwanese company with which Wilier has worked for many years as a client and which was fully acquired in 2021, is being transformed into a strategic and logistical hub, becoming the centre of the brand's development in Asia and Oceania.

The lack of transparency in the bicycle industry's supply chain inspired Pieter Jan Rijpstra, a former Accell Western Europe manager, to launch BEIC. This OEM trading platform addresses excess inventory and missing components, improving stock visibility, cash flow, and sustainability while streamlining operations for businesses in the bicycle industry.

ZEIST, The Netherlands - Dutch fatbike manufacturers are experiencing a drastic decline in demand following the uproar surrounding e-bikes with fat tyres in the country. Phatfour's sales in its home market are currently about 75% lower than last year. Local competitor, Urban Mobility, the company behind Doppio, recently filed for bankruptcy. Can export markets offer a saviour for Dutch fatbike bands?

APELDOORN, the Netherlands - To step up Merida's presence, the Benelux distributor of the Taiwanese manufacturer has expanded into Denmark as the official importer for this country. This strategic move strengthens Merida's foothold in the Scandinavian region, furthering the brand's commitment to delivering high-quality bikes and cycling gear to a wider audience.

BERINGEN, Belgium - To extend its European sales network Belgian Cycling Factory (BCF) has been reviewing its business model and market strategy as part of a major expansion of its business. As owner of brands like Ridley Bikes and Eddy Merckx the company wrote a 'book of promises' for current and future retail partners to clarify this new strategy.

HAUSHAM, Germany -American cult brand Yeti has announced the opening of a European office in Germany. "Expanding into Europe is the next logical step for us as we have seen a lot of growth over the last decade," says Yeti CEO Chris Conroy. Founded in 1985, Yeti Cycles makes race-bred, obsessively engineered, masterfully crafted mountain bikes.

LONDON, England - Austrian kid's bike brand, Woom has now entered the lucrative UK market. Having had success in 30 other countries and sales of over 1 million units, Woom bikes will be distributed by UK trade partners online and in-stores.

HASTINGS, UK - British bike brand, Whyte Bikes is undergoing a transformation in 2024. With a new CEO at the helm, and a new range of e-MTBs that are garnering awards, the brand is now expanding further into Europe. With a distribution partnership already in place in Germany, Eurobike marked the signing of an agreement with DSB, for launching the brands 2025 collection into the Italian market.

TESSENDERLO, Belgium - The delivery problems at Shimano Benelux have arisen since warehousing and distribution was outsourced to logistics service provider Kühne+Nagel in 2023. Although Shimano did not give any reasons for the delivery problem, sources indicate that the 'mismatch' between both IT systems is the main cause of the problems.