Team Picnic PostNL manager Iwan Spekenbrink (left) and Accell Group CEO Tjeerd Jegen signed the 4-year contract. - Photo Accell Group

Accell Group returns to UCI World Tour team sponsoring

DIJON, France - The news came out already earlier, but was only published officially today. Accell Group's brand Cycles Lapierre is making a return to the to the UCI World Tour as the official bike sponsor for Team Picnic PostNL. The team will compete on Lapierre bicycles for the next four years.

“The French government puts the production relocation of bicycles in France in jeopardy.” – Photo Union sport & cycle

France eliminates all subsidies on bicycle purchases

PARIS, France - The budget crisis in France which led to a lot of political turmoil recently has a big impact on the bicycle and e-bike industry as well. With no previous warning, the Government announced that all state subsidies for the purchase of bicycles and e-bikes will be eliminated on very short notice. The 'Alliance for Cycling' warns of a significant consequence of such a decision for the whole cycling industry.

Providing an emission-free alternative to delivery vans, Onomotion's ‘Ono’ heavy-duty e-cargobike. – Photo Emoving

Takeover secures insolvent Onomotion's future

BERLIN, Germany - Due to a sales slump and the resulting financial bottleneck Berlin-based (cargo-) LEV manufacturer Onomotion GmbH had to file for insolvency on 26 September. A subsidiary of a corporate group already backing other bike manufacturers, Emoving GmBH, has added the last mile delivery solution provider to its portfolio.

After an initially successful quest, it now turns out that CIE needs to relaunch their search for a new CEO immediately. – Photo Shutterstock

CIE re-opens search for Kevin Mayne's replacement after candidate...

BRUSSELS, Belgium - A setback has occurred for Cycling Industries Europe during the process of leadership change after the candidate to succeed Kevin Mayne as CEO of Cycling Industries Europe withdrew. The organisation was informed on short notice that he will not take up the post due to a family issue.

John Zopfi (r.) the new chief commercial officer at Gravaa and CEO Gertjan van Ginderen (l.). – Photo Gravaa

Gravaa appoints new chief commercial officer

EINDHOVEN, the Netherlands - Adaptable tyre pressure technology firm Gravaa has ap-pointed John Zopfi as its new chief commercial officer. With more than 20 years of experi-ence in outdoor and cycling industries, Zopfi took up the role earlier this month after spend-ing the past six years at 7mesh Industries where he most recently served as general manager for global wholesale.

All Stella stores in the Benelux will remain closed until March 1st 2025. – Photo Tweewieler

Dutch investors acquire bankrupt e-bike brand Stella

NUNSPEET, The Netherlands - The future of a former market leader for e-bikes in the Netherlands, Stella, has been secured. Dutch investment company Scheybeeck and chain store owner Ilias Salhi have announced a relaunch of the recently bankrupt e-bike manufacturer albeit in a downsized form.

Market analysts believe the Hungarian bike market will continue to experience stagnation in most categories in 2025. – Photo Balazs Kerekparbolt

Hungarian bicycle market hit by inflation

BUDAPEST, Hungary - The Central European country Hungary is known in the industry as the location for the production facilities of Accell Hunland and Giant Manufacturing Hungary Ltd. In an exclusive interview, Róbert Sipiczki, president of the Association Hungarian Bicycle Producers and Traders (AHBPT) elaborates on the difficult local market situation due to limited sales with the most negative dynamics in the lower price brackets.

The current market situation in combination with full warehouses stood as the basis for the financial problems at Advanced Bike. – Photo Advanced Bikes

Advanced Bikes files for insolvency proceedings

OFFENBACH, Germany - Rumours had been swirling recently that another Germany e-bike manufacturer was facing financial problems, and this was confirmed yesterday when Advanced Bikes GmbH officially filed for insolvency. This insolvency reflects the problems the European industry is currently facing.

Some 3,700 people are employed by KTM AG in Austria. The reduction in domestic production will certainly also lead to further job losses. – Photo KTM AG

Pierer Mobility restructures KTM AG amid multi-million financial...

WELS, Austria - Pierer Mobility AG, the owner of bicycle and e-bike brands Husqvarna, GasGas and Felt has announced that it will apply for debtor-in-possession restructuring proceedings for its motorcycle subsidiary KTM AG on Friday. KTM AG's financing requirements are "currently in the high three-digit million euro range."

Working step by step to reduce the slump in production and revenue caused by the 2023 insolvencies of two major customers, and the associated losses: Taiwan's Taichung-based bike manufacturer Ideal Bike Corporation. – Photo Jo Beckendorff

Ideal Bike on successful loss reduction course despite revenue drop

TAICHUNG, Taiwan - Even though the first three sales quarter revenue of NT$1.91 billion (€55.66 million) was 32.5% lower than in the same period of the previous year, Taiwan's bicycle manufacturer Ideal Bike Corporation has been able to reduce its loss by 34.4%. The crisis at Taiwan's third largest bicycle producer is still rooted in the 2023 insolvencies of two of its major customers Advanced Sports GmbH and VanMoof.