On the question of when Bosch would introduce an e-bike hub motor, Bosch eBike Systems CEO Claus Fleischer always consistently stated that this was not part of their product philosophy. However, the market is changing, which has made Bosch decide to expand into an all-new category for them: the stylish urban e-bikes.
Heiko Müller is stepping back from the management of Riese & Müller after more than three decades with the company he co-founded. His departure at the end of July concludes the operational responsibility of the founding generation, after Markus Riese stepped back from management in 2022.
As the bicycle industry asks for better product data, three European bike-tech companies, NOCA, DST and BikeFolder have combined resources to connect PLM and PIM software, an independent industry data standard and aftermarket digital twins into one practical industry solution. The collaboration is being rolled out under the name Smart Bike Brand.
Bosch eBike Systems is entering the fast-growing second-hand e-bike segment with a digital certification scheme, marking a notable step in the professionalisation of Europe's pre-owned market. From July 2026, German refurbishment specialist Rebike will be the first partner to certify e-bikes with Bosch's smart system and mark them with the 'Certified by Bosch' certificate.
The e-bike market share could reach as high as 80% according to past predictions. Since the start of the sales boom more than a decade ago, it was uncertain what market share the e-bike would eventually take of the total bicycle market in Europe. The 80% outlook now seems exaggerated, as the Europe-wide market share remains stuck at just under 40%. What has put a stop to the growth of the e-bike market?
German e-commerce giant The Platform Group (TPG) states that it has "fully met" its annual forecast, with significant growth in revenue and earnings. "The organic growth of our platforms was consistently strong, enabling us to successfully decouple from the generally weak retail industry trend," founder Dr Dominik Benner states. The group's activities in the bicycle industry include three online platforms and one brick-and-mortar store.
