WARSAW, Poland - In 2025 a series of significant industry trends will mark the future development of the bicycle and e-bike industry. One of these trends is the ongoing reshoring of production and improving market flexibility by manufacturing in Europe instead of Asia.
For reshoring production and improving market flexibility by manufacturing in Europe instead of Asia, the central European countries have always played a key role. Although no country has taken a leading role, like Portugal, that does not mean that the region plays a secondary role within the industry. Several new facilities were started in recent years and existing ones upgraded their output quality.
KOPRIVNICE, Czech Republic - The two buildings housing the offices, production and warehouse of Bike Fun International (BFI) are hidden behind the big entry gate of the Tatra truck factory in the Czech Republic. BFI is probably the only bicycle factory which is located in a former test facility for trucks. Founded by a group of Dutch investors in 2001, the company developed into a leading city bike manufacturer based in central Europe, without losing sight on the sports bike market.
ČVRČOVICE, Czech Republic - Darfon Electronics' announcement in December 2023 to open an e-bike assembly and battery production facility in the Czech Republic marked the official start of the OEM business for this electronics giant in Europe. In fact, it was set up to expand the company's e-bike operation in the Czech Republic as assembly has already been taking place for a while in Čvrcovice.
KOPRIVNICE, Czech Republic - The long-time experience in the production of city bikes for a leading Dutch brand, gave Bike Fun International (BFI) a strong position in the expanding urban mobility cycling market. Bike Europe talked with CEO René Gasser about the manufacturer's ambition to serve the central European markets as a leading distributor, but also how they can distinguish themselves as an OEM supplier.
FRANKFURT, Germany - Apprenticeship years are not master years - Taiwan's electronics giant Darfon Electronics Corp. also learnt this when entering the European e-bike market. The first few years were difficult. Here and there adjustments by the quickly learning stock-listed company had to be made. This led to things significantly progressing in the last three years. Find out how here.
