World
$18 Million Injection as Arcimoto Resumes Production
Oregon, US A US company at the forefront of light electric vehicle production, Arcimoto, has accrued a total of US$18 million (A$26.71 million) in funding during the past two months, and late last month resumed production for 2023. Arcimoto recorded a nett loss of approximately US$17 million (A$25.28 million) in the third quarter of 2022,…
Podbike Starts Deliveries to Customers
Stavanger, Norway Norway’s Podbike has finally started delivering its Frikar light electric vehicle to customers, eight years after cofounder Per Hassel Sørensen embarked on a journey to build a better bike. “After all the stops and starts, engineering challenges, a global pandemic, a shortage of computer chips, and a painful trimming of staff last year…
Giant Jumps into Indoor Market with Stages Purchase
Portland, Oregon Giant Group has escalated its presence in the indoor cycling market by investing heavily in one of the leaders in the sector in North America, Stages Cycling Inc. Taiwan-based Giant announced a US$20 million (A$29 million) investment in Stages, including buying 32.5% of the company’s ordinary shares. A statement from Giant says the…
Folding Bike Giant Seeks Supply Solutions to Global Challenges
Greenford, UK Mounting predictions of a possible invasion of Taiwan by China is one of several reasons folding bike pioneer Brompton is shifting parts of its supply chain away from those two countries, the company has revealed. Additional global challenges such as Brexit, transportation through the Suez Canal and the impacts of Covid have all…
Mate’s First SUV Wins Design Award
Copenhagen, Denmark In the wake of Mate.Bike Australia’s launch in June, the parent company in Denmark has struck gold with its first e-cargo bike. The Mate SUV last week won the Gold distinction award at the German Design Award, the premier award of the German Design Council. The SUV was nominated because of its features…
Pierer Industrie Buys Syntace and Liteville
Wels, Austria Austrian motorcycle giant Pierer Industrie AG has acquired a majority stake in high-quality componentry manufacturer Syntace. The takeover includes Syntace’s MTB branch, Liteville. “The innovative strength of Syntace and the expertise of its technical staff is complementary to the Pierer Group, where technology and the transfer of know-how between the business units is…
Sea Otter an Incubator for New European Micromobility Festival
Girona, Spain A new European mobility festival was launched last week as part of this year’s Sea Otter Europe Bike Show. The Spanish city of Girona hosted Sea Otter Europe and the Euromobility Festival (EMF) from the 23rd to 25th September. A Sea Otter statement says EMF aimed to be a catalyst in the innovation…
Fashionable Bike Brand Veloretti Purchased by Pon.Bike
Cloppenberg, Germany Dutch bike conglomerate Pon.Bike announced this month it is acquiring fashionable bike brand Veloretti, also based in Amsterdam. Veloretti is one of Europe’s fastest growing direct-to-consumer bicycle brands, founded 10 years ago and now active in 27 countries. A statement from Pon said Veloretti will “continue to function independently under the leadership of…
Riese & Müller CEO Steps Down for Innovation Focus
Darmstadt, Germany The CEO of one of Europe’s most enduring and important players in micromobility, Riese & Müller, has stepped down from executive duties to focus more on innovation and product development. Markus Riese, who co-founded the e-bike specialist company in Germany almost 30 years ago, last month announced he was relinquishing the top executive…
Hopper Stays Close to Driving Experience
Frankfurt, Germany Luring drivers out of cars and into more sustainable transport options could require alternatives as close as possible to the automobile experience, according to the developer of a new light electric vehicle (LEV) prototype. German company Hopper Mobility, launched only last year, attracted plenty of attention when it exhibited its three-wheeler prototype at…