TALLINN, Estonia - Estonian e-bike manufacturer Ampler has unveiled its newest bike models with a cutting-edge new feature: direct USB-C charging. The Nova and the Nova Pro e-bikes were created "with urban families and modern commuters in mind," and tout a fully embedded USB-C battery in the bike frame.

As the dust settles after December 13, 2024 - of course you all know by now that's the date when the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) came into effect - numerous ambiguities remain. Flaws, gaps, and even loopholes are crying out for more clarity. At the time of writing this blog, we are still awaiting the European Commission's guidance document, which is expected to provide some of this much-needed clarity.

Once upon a time, back when I was just a young lad, there was a song my brothers and I occasionally heard on the radio - a song that seemed to cast a spell over us. We didn't know what it was about, nor could we name the band, but something about it was almost magical. And this was before we'd even seen the music video! That song became iconic - a symbol of our youth - resonating with us deeply despite remaining a mystery for years.

LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg - An investigation into suspected large-scale customs fraud related to the import of e-bikes from China is being led by the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. In this latest case where the e-bikes are known to have entered the EU via Poland, the unpaid duties add up to an estimated loss of €1.8 million.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The fierce discussion 2 years ago on the new battery regulation implemented by the European Commission seem to have moved to the background. The challenging market conditions appear to be more relevant than a new European regulation which will be implemented in January 2027. One element in this regulation is that the single cell replacement for e-bike batteries would cause serious safety issues according to many industry insiders.

BRUSSELS, India - The EU and India are intensifying bilateral contacts again with a view to concluding negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced during her speech in Davos that the first trip of the new Commission would be to India. "Together with Prime Minister Modi, we want to upgrade the strategic partnership with the largest country and democracy in the world," she said.