ACT
Cycling Luminary Awards Invite Nominations
Canberra, ACT Nominations are open for this year’s We Ride Australia Cycling Luminaries Awards, which will be announced at a gala dinner in Canberra on 15th November. The awards have been held for over 20 years to shine a spotlight on the people, places and programs that are getting more people riding throughout Australia. “The…
Australian Bicycle Imports Remain at Record Lows
Canberra, ACT Every Australian bicycle retailer and wholesaler knows from first-hand experience that since the end of Covid lockdowns, our market has been overstocked, resulting in widespread discounting which causes unwanted erosion of margins and profits. While this situation is not universal across all bicycle categories, particularly in the high end, in the volume market…
Our First Look at Six Years of E-Bike Import Data
Canberra ACT As I confessed in another article here, I’ve only recently become aware that e-bikes imports are recorded separately under Australian Border Force tariff code number 8711.60.00, that has the following definition: “Motorcycles (including mopeds), bicycles and other cycles fitted with electric motor for propulsion, with or without sidecars.” The problem that’s immediately apparent…
Trek E-Cargo Confirmed for Australian Release in April
Canberra, ACT Trek’s return to the e-cargo bike sector, the Fetch+ series, will make its way to Australia and NZ next month, with the local release of the Fetch+2 longtail. The company says it expects stock will arrive in mid-April and will be available globally on trekbikes.com and through Trek’s retail partners. The Fetch+2 is…
Bicycle Imports in Freefall but Unit Value Soars
Canberra, ACT Bicycle import numbers in Australia were on an earthbound trajectory when The Latz Report last reported on the data late last year. My article on the data to the end of September 2022 reported: “It appears that after two years of stratospheric bicycle imports, numbers are starting to fall back to earth.” One…
Fortuna Farewells Retirement to Become Pushys & BikeBug CEO
Canberra, ACT Last year’s purchase of BikeBug by fellow online bicycle retailer Pushys has taken another twist, with former BikeBug owner Frank Fortuna this month appointed as the new CEO of both organisations. “I’ve stepped in to facilitate the retirement of the founders of Pushys.” The appointment was effective from the first day of the…
Monthly Bike Imports Starting to Fall
Canberra, ACT It appears that after two years of stratospheric bicycle imports, numbers are starting to fall back to earth. Bicycle imports for August were slightly lower than most pre-Covid years and September imports were significantly lower. In August, 117,864 bikes were imported. That’s the third lowest August total since 2009 and the two years…
Bicycle Industry Submission Says E-Bikes Critical to EV Transition
Canberra, ACT A finalised bicycle industry submission to the Federal Government’s National Electric Vehicle Strategy (NEVS) and discussion paper says incorporating micromobility into the NEVS, and its recommended actions, is critical to the Government’s ambitious plan to accelerate transition in the transport sector. The submission was prepared last week by national peak bike advocacy group…
We Ride Urges Strong Bike Presence in National EV Policy
Canberra, ACT Any government incentives to promote electric transportation in Australia needs to include e-bikes, according to a submission being prepared by bicycle advocacy organisations for the Federal Government’s consultation for a National Electric Vehicle Strategy. We Ride Australia is coordinating a joint submission to the strategy and is inviting bike industry members to contribute…
Australian Bicycle Imports Top 1.5 Million for the Second Time Ever
Canberra, ACT A total of 1,534,544 bicycles were imported to Australia for the full 2021/22 financial year – only the second time imports have topped 1.5 million. It first happened in 2020/21, when imports rose by 520,000 units on the previous year and hit an all-time record of 1,690,637 million units. Of course, everyone knows…