Industry Input on Helmet Regulation Review

Bike helmets

Canberra, ACT Bike industry representatives have until 15th July to lodge a submission on an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) review into bicycle helmet regulations. The review is considering two options for the Australian mandatory helmet standard: Updating the Mandatory Standard to permit compliance with the latest edition of the voluntary Australian standard, or…

Zoomo Delivers Powerful Moped Masher

Zoomo One Bike

Sydney, Australia Sydney’s own global leader in electric last-mile deliveries, Zoomo, last month unveiled its prototype of the Zoomo One, the world’s first 45kmh e-bike built specifically for delivery. “The Zoomo One combines moped-level performance, unmatched reliability, advanced safety, and broad customisation options to empower riders and businesses to make the green switch from pollutive…

Electronic Upgrade for Shimano 105

Shimano group set

Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan Shimano’s 105 group set has been upgraded to electronic shifting, as the model celebrating its 40th anniversary. The move to Di2 electronic shifting technology for the 105 R7100 group also incorporates a step up from 11 speed to the company’s flagship 12-speed system. Shimano 105’s Di2 utilises a hybrid system, with a…

Passion on Display at Handmade Bicycle Show

The Handmade Bicycle Show

Williamstown, Victoria Flowing from the Covid pandemic and resultant international trade disruptions have been calls for more products to be made in Australia. When it comes to bicycles and related parts and accessories, the vast majority of products are imported, but what our local manufacturers lack in scale, they make up for with passion and…

Honda Backs New Balance-Assist Scooter

Striemo e-scooter

Tokyo, Japan A new Japanese start-up with strong backing from the Honda Motor Company has unveiled a balance-assist e-scooter scheduled for release by the end of the year. Honda announced last week Striemo Inc. and its “one-person, three-wheeled electric micro-mobility product”, also called Striemo, had originated from the Honda New Business Creation Program, IGNITION. A…

KKR and Accell Waive Condition for Acquisition to Proceed

Lapierre Bikes

New York, US A KKR-led consortium bid to purchase one of the world’s biggest bike manufacturers, Accell Group, moved another step forward this month, with both parties agreeing to waive a previous condition for the sale to proceed. The consortium and Accell Group had initially set a condition that at least 80% of Accell shares…

Expo Booth Sales Off and Racing at Randwick

QEII stand

Randwick, NSW Expo booth sales for the 2022 Micromobility Conference and Expo are off to a strong start since their release last month. “We’ve sold approximately one quarter of the total available floorspace in the opening weeks,” said the event’s co-founder, Phil Latz. “Some of the first companies to put their hand up for booth…

Battery Industry Unprepared for Demand Tsunami: Says US Report

Greenbushes Lithium Mine

Boulder, US The global battery industry is not ready for an impending “tsunami of demand” set to bring a surge in electric vehicle battery costs during the next four years, according to a study by US research firm E Source. A scarcity of key raw materials needed to make EV battery cells is expected to…

Porsche Completes Fazua Purchase

Porsche with e-bike

Ottobrunn, Germany Sports car manufacturer Porsche has escalated its stake in e-bike drive system specialist Fazua, purchasing all the company’s shares. Porsche had acquired a 20% stake in Fazua in January and last week announced it had claimed the remaining shares. Fazua’s prominence as a manufacturer of particularly light and compact drive systems was enhanced…

How’s Business? – June 2022

Blue Cycles

Welcome to our monthly chat with dealers across Australia and NZ. COVID continues to be a consistent theme in the day-to-day operations of bike stores, as its impacts enter their next phase and retailers discuss their current challenges and forecasts. A hangover from the heady, COVID-driven sales highs of the past two years appears to…