GIVISIEZ, Switzerland - Between mid-June to August, the multisport supplier Scott Sports Group will invite 1,600 IBDs from 26 countries to the so-called Scott Week in Givisiez, Switzerland. They will be shown around in the new company head office. Bike Europe got the opportunity to take a look in this new building which will officially be opened in September.
REDDITCH, UK - The UK's leading bricks and mortar cycle retailer Halfords have released their latest Q3 trading figures. In the past 14 weeks to January 4, cycling sales were down 0.3% compared to a rise of 8% for the same quarter last year.
HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam - The saddle pre-production hall is huge. The saddle cover paint job is done manually while the production line looks endlessly. It gives a good impression of the size of DDK production capacity in the company's facility in Vietnam. Once started as a motorcycle saddle manufacturer, today DDK has an annual output of 10 million bicycle saddles plus millions of grips in Vietnam only.
EASTWOOD, UK - Local UK media reports that Raleigh UK is set to sell its current HQ in Eastwood near Nottingham and move to a UK site that will allow it to "Capitalise on the growing demand for e-bikes".
MONTREAL, Canada - Today Dorel Industries Inc. announces drastic results for its Sports division (including Cannondale, Schwinn, GT, Mongoose, Pacific Cycles and Caloi) in 2018 and in the fourth quarter in particular. For the year, Dorel Sports' revenue increased by USD 17.6 million, or 2.0 percent, to USD 883 million and a gross profit of USD 187.8.
TAICHUNG, TAIWAN - To open up the market for shared e-bikes, the Benelux subsidiary of Giant Manufacturing joined the new B2B platform ConnectBike. For this project a robust e-bike, a service concept and sharing platform are being developed. According to Giant Benelux, "More than 300,000 B2B e-bikes will be on the road in the Netherlands and Belgium by 2022."
AGUEDA, Portugal - At the Eurobike show, held earlier this month, Fritz Jou said that the production at his new bicycle production facility in Portugal has started. This is earlier than expected. However, the facility is not yet fully operational as brand new equipment is still being installed.
SAN FRANCISCO, USA - Uber is planning a shift in focus from cars to e-bikes and scooters for shorter journeys as part of its long-term strategy. According to Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi "More individual modes of transport are better suited to inner-city travel, despite its competition with existing Uber's drivers."
HELSINKI, Finland - After Amer Sports announced one week ago that it wants to sell its activities in the cycling market with Mavic and Enve, the Finnish holding got a takeover bid for all Amer shares by the Chinese companies ANTA Sports Products and FountainVest Partners. Apart from the principal issue of how Amer's Board and shareholders will react to the bid, it also raises the question of how the EU will deal with this planned takeover.
SANGERHAUSEN, Germany - Sachsenring Bike Manufaktur GmbH and the Swiss premium e-bike manufacturer Stromer AG announced a long-term partnership last week. Stromer's ST3 and ST5 for distribution on the European and the US market, will be assembled in Sangerhausen in the future.
BRUSSELS, Belgium - In Belgium and in Holland promotion projects are being started in order "To optimize the potential of the speed pedelec for commuting." Such projects are needed because sales of this e-bike category is indeed rising, but by no means shows brisk growth. At least, that what's happening in the Netherlands.
TAIPEI, Taiwan - Kindshock recently acquired a plot in Tainan, Taiwan where the company will start building its new Headquarters as well as a bigger than ever before factory. This fits with the growth ambitions of the company, which are also rumored to extend into the production of carbon components.
SALMDORF, Germany - E-bike rear hub motor pioneer BionX Canada Inc. was forced to file for bankruptcy on 27 February this year. At that time its European subsidiaries BionX GmbH and Elby Bike Europe GmbH were not affected. Since then, BionX GmbH has been searching for a European motor producer. Without success. BionX GmbH officially announced to close down after ten years. The sales were already discontinued on 10 December 2018.
MUNICH, Germany - 3e oem Sports AG is restarting Edco; supplier of hi-end carbon wheels, components and accessories. 3e oem Sports AG has strong ties with Asian companies. Earlier such bonds prompted Edco's bankruptcy.
HEERENVEEN, the Netherlands - Next to its financial 2017 results Accell Group also made clear last Friday that the holding company and all its subsidiaries are to change drastically in the 2018-2022 period. And these changes are already starting this year as 2018 is marked as an important transitional year.
KOBLENZ, Germany - Mobile bicycle repair is one of the future strategies for dealers and bicycle brands who wants to offer their customers a personalized service. After all the consumer gets the bike repair at their doorstep or office, or even delivery of a fully assembled bike from an (online) brand, including professional bike fitting services. Go Bike Services is the latest franchise provider entering this market.
BOLOGNA, Italy - Now e-bike sales have seriously picked up in Italy, Italwin and Wayel e-bike manufacturer Five invested in the in-house production of batteries. For next year Five expects to assemble all the batteries for their e-bikes themselves in Italy.
FRANKFURT, Germany - After the invasion of European cities by various Fareast bicycle sharing systems, now another player from a completely different part of the world is announcing itself. LimeBike, the self-acclaimed "fastest growing US bicycle sharing company", enters Europe. Earlier this month this dockless bike rental system debuted in Frankfurt, Germany as well as in Zurich, Switzerland. More cities are to follow.
PLODIV, Bulgaria - Leader 96 presented its new Jaguar branded e-bike range at the Velofollies show in Belgian Kortrijk last month. Next to the opening of a new e-bike factory last summer this is the company's next step to grow its market position, using the reputation of the recently acquired trademark Jaguar.
FRANKFURT, Germany - The International Motor Show IAA in Frankfurt last week was Ford's platform to present its new bike and car sharing system. According to Ford they are the first from the automotive industry to be involved in a bike sharing project.
