REGAU, Austria - The restructuring plan of the young bicycle and e-bike contract manufacturer WSF Bicycle Technology GmbH, which slipped into insolvency on April 24, has failed. Despite big ambitions, all assets are now being liquidated, the insolvency administrator Dr. Klaus Schiller confirmed to Bike Europe.
LUDHIANA, India - To boost local manufacturing and reduce the country's dependency on imports, the Modi government launched an incentive scheme for 13 sectors in 2020. Other objectives were to attract foreign direct investments and to expand exports. Now the bicycle industry also wants to be included in this scheme.
ULFT, The Netherlands - Lennart van Houwelingen has joined Hesling Bike Parts as international sales manager. With extensive experience in the international bicycle industry, including nearly nine years with Enviolo/NuVinci and five years with Bafang, he will focus on expanding the Dutch company's presence on the European market.
盧森堡，盧森堡市（LUXEMBOURG）－歐洲檢察官辦公室（European Public Prosecutor's Office，簡稱EPPO）宣布，自中國進口電動自行車的某義大利公司因涉嫌重大海關詐欺行為，已對其執行凍結令。該公司被控避稅金額超過980萬歐元。對於歐盟電動自行車零件進口問題的複雜性，這一最新案件亦引起社會關注。
荷蘭，海牙（DEN HAAG）－荷蘭人類環境和運輸督察局（Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate，簡稱ILT）已扣押大約3,500輛胖胎自行車，原因是這些產品符合輕型摩托車（moped）法規，但非電動自行車法規。這需要不同的型式認可。胖胎車在荷蘭已成為廣大年輕族群的愛好車款，近期也出現增加控管的呼聲。
瑞典，斯德哥爾摩（STOCKHOLM）－法國體育用品零售連鎖巨頭Decathlon已宣布，將於本月底結束在瑞典的業務。該公司發言人向本社表示：「目前全球經濟情勢以及這對我們在瑞典營運造成的影響，很遺憾這迫使我們做出這個艱難的決定。」
英國，哈斯丁（HASTINGS）－英國自行車品牌Whyte Bikes今年正經歷轉型。新執行長上任，加上一系列屢次獲獎的電動登山車，該品牌正進一步拓往歐洲市場。他們在德國已與分銷商合作，也在Eurobike上與DSB簽訂合約，預計於2025年在義大利市場推出品牌系列。
LOS ANGELES, US - "The bicycle industry can expect a gradual recovery with significant upside in the medium to long term, with 2026 and 2027 marking pivotal years for increased mergers and acquisitions and investment opportunities." This is the conclusion of a new report led by global investment bank Houlihan Lokey. In contrast to the current market conditions, the study indicates that another boom period for the industry is also possible before the end of the decade.
THE HAGUE, The Netherlands - Approximately 3,500 fatbikes have been seized by the Dutch authorities due to not meeting the legal requirements of an e-bike, but that of a moped. This requires a different type approval. Fatbikes, in some cases tampered with, have become immensely popular amongst younger riders in the Netherlands prompting calls for more law enforcement in the market.
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.
BERLIN, Germany - Full-service mobility provider Cycle has acquired the Dutch delivery e-bike manufacturer, Ebike4Delivery. "This strategic acquisition strengthens our position as a provider of e-bike fleets for the delivery industry in Europe," writes Cycle in a statement. The transaction includes the staff, all e-bikes, and existing leasing contracts.
At Eurobike 2024, the ZF Group unveiled its new 48-Volt drive system for e-bikes for the first time. The 'ZF Bike Eco System' includes all drive components such as the e-motor, batteries, control units, app, and cloud connectivity. The core component is the ZF CentriX drive unit with a compact, 90 Nm mid-motor.
LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg - A freezing order has been executed against an Italian company suspected of a major customs fraud involving the importation of e-bikes from China, the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) has announced. The company has been accused of evading more than €9.8 million in customs duties. This latest case raises questions about how complex it is to import e-bike components into the EU.
TOULOUSE, France - Due to the Olympic games in Paris, the Pro Days organiser, Département Beauté, had to find a new location for the 2024 edition. The company opted to hold the event in Toulouse from June 23 to 25 at the MEETT venue. Despite the shift, Pro Days managed to remain attractive for a growing number of international visitors.
CAMBRIDGE, UK - Barclays Sustainable Impact Capital, Mercia Ventures, the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF) and Green Angel Syndicate have invested £4 million (€3.4 million) in cargobike manufacturer and logistics provider Zedify. Since its foundation in 2015, Zedify has raised a total of £14.1 million (€11.9 million).
ANTWERP, Belgium - Drivetrain brand, Classified has strengthened its leadership team with the appointment of Dennis Weijers as chief commercial officer (CCO). Weijers joins Classified from Shimano Europe, where he served as director of marketing.
A&C Solutions and Higo have a shared history in the e-bike industry. Since 2008, A&C Solutions, a distributor of high-quality connectors, including Higo, has provided comprehensive and customizable solutions for e-mobility and industrial automation. Together, they have raised the standards of e-bike connectors.
比利時，泰森德洛（TESSENDERLO）－自從在2023年將倉儲及分銷外包給物流服務供應商Kühne+Nagel之後，Shimano Benelux便開始出現運輸問題。儘管Shimano未表示問題原因，有消息來源指出，兩廠之間的IT系統不匹配是造成問題的主因。
中國，蘇州－Okawa已開始準備於歐洲開設工廠。在本社近期拜訪Okawa Motor Technology Co. Ltd位中國的總部時，他們正在裝配第一條高度自動化的馬達組裝線。在完全啟用後，同樣一條產線將被運至葡萄牙。
德國，法蘭克福（FRANKFURT）－今年Eurobike會場上出現一個新面孔，那就是發表Avinox驅動系統的無人機製造商Da Jiang Innovations（DJI）。該款輕量、扭力105Nm的驅動系統在該公司於2023年推出的電動登山車品牌Amflow上首次亮相。想購入的人潮大排長龍，這是今年Eurobike最吸睛的其中一項創新產品。
