SHANGHAI, China - E-bike drive system manufacturer, Ananda has opened a new factory in Vietnam to strengthen its worldwide manufacturing capabilities. Already up and running, the factory will meet the growing needs in the US and European markets. Additionally, the company is celebrating a successful listing on the Shanghai stock exchange.
ROOSENDAAL, The Netherlands - Timyo, the Dutch-based company that designed, developed and jointly manufactured e-bikes under its brands Van Dijck, Keola and Muon, has been declared bankrupt this week. The company had been struggling with issues for some time, including technical defects in e-bike components. However, continuation of the Van Dijck and Muon brands is already in place.
LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg - Belguim's Louyet Group has taken over the motor vehicle distribution business of Arnold Kontz Group. The latter has decided to go back to its roots and fully focus on the bicycle trade and soft mobility. "I feel that the time is right for us to withdraw from car distribution and concentrate once again on bicycles," explains managing director Benji Kontz.
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.
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.
LONDON, UK - BP subsidiary Castrol has invested €46.7 million in the battery-swapping ecosystems provider Gogoro. Castrol, a global leader in lubricants, recently announced a new strategy and wants to focus on the changing market demand in view of the expanding electric mobility market.
REDDITCH, England - Citing headwinds in the bicycle market, UK retail chain, Halfords, has closed the financial year with a 30% drop in volume in its cycling division. "The bicycle market consolidated at a faster rate than expected, leading to much more discounting, which put significant short-term pressure on gross margin," the company reports.
HEERENVEEN, the Netherlands - Accell Group CEO Tjeerd Jegen has revealed some clear figures in a business update on the financial situation at the company he has been heading since November 2023. The manufacturer continues to see profits drop and debts rise. "Especially in Germany, the market collapsed because dealers had and still have too high inventories," said Jegen in an interview with the Dutch media FD.
ROTORUA, New Zealand - Where others may have failed in the past, start-up Bike Matrix appears to be succeeding in the accumulation of a complete bike parts database with the support of the industry. The company operating out of New Zealand now has major brands engaged in supplying data in what was historically a closed-off world; what has been their secret to success?
