BERLIN, Germany - Germany as a manufacturing base might not be the most logical choice for the bicycle industry when looking at the rising cost of labour. The strategic location in central Europe and the long heritage of production and engineering has always given the country a strong position in the industry. A group of industry leaders spoke out whether Germany is losing its appeal as a business location for bicycle companies or 'Made in Germany' is a concept for the future.

COLOGNE, Germany - Taiwanese bicycle manufacturer Tern has announced plans to establish its first distribution office in Europe. Dubbed Tern ZE, the Cologne-based facility will begin operating on 1 July 2025 and should enable the firm to better support its customers in Europe.

FREIBURG, Germany - Bravobike GmbH, the subsidiary of leasing pioneer JobRad has signed an agreement with Garbe Industrial Real Estate GmbH, which claims to be a "specialist for logistics real estate and light industry in Germany and Europe." The agreement will see Bravobike make use of a 23,500 sqm property in Kabelsketal, Germany to accommodate the strong growth in the number of ex-lease bicycles that will become available for the second-hand market in the coming years.

EINDHOVEN, The Netherlands - Shimano Europe is extending its cooperation with GXO, a company that manages outsourced supply chains and warehousing, to perform logistic services across Europe. The component manufacturer will now move its warehouse operations in Belgium to GXO's facility in Venray, the Netherlands.

Over the past decade, JCL Logistics has grown into perhaps the largest logistics service provider for the bicycle industry in the Benelux and West Germany. With the opening of a new storage facility for lithium-ion batteries, the company is set to deliver even more tailored services.

HAMBURG, Germany - 82% of supply chain professionals in China expect container prices to rise in January 2025, according to a survey by Container xChange. The survey also highlighted that supply chain participants are preparing for three key disruptions this year; tariffs, geopolitical risks, and structural overcapacity. These disruptions are expected to keep demand and supply dynamics volatile well into 2025 with a potential impact on the bicycle industry.