UTRECHT, Netherlands (BRAIN) — The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority told the Accell Group cargo brand Babboe to stop selling its bikes for not investigating a series of reported broken frames as required by law.
Babboe, which designs its electric and pedal cargo bikes for families, responded by saying it will temporarily stop sales of all of its cargo bikes. The brand said it will immediately begin working with the safety authority to provide it information.
The agency began its investigation late last year after it became aware of multiple frames breaking. The authority said Babboe received a number of reports of its frames breaking in recent years but did not investigate the cause. While the safety authority did not say if any injuries have resulted, "this can lead to very serious injury. For example, when cycling, children fall out of the bin because of this. Especially when this happens in heavy traffic."
The cargo bikes can be sold again once they are deemed safe through "complete technical documentation," according to the safety authority. In conjunction with the Functional Prosecutor's Officer, the authority will determine if it's necessary to begin a criminal investigation.
Babboe will be required to recall:
- City/City-E/City Mountain
- Curve/Curve-E/Curve Mountain
- Big/Big-E
- Dog/Dog-E
- Max-E
- Mini-E/Mini Mountain
- Pro Trike/Trike-E/Trike XL
- Carve-E/Carve Mountain
The authority said Babboe is responsible for organizing the recall. Consumers and businesses can contact the Customer Contact Center.
Last month, Accell announced plans to combine its two facilities in Heerenveen, with Babboe among the brands that will be manufactured there. In 2018, Accell acquired Velosophy, which owns the Babboe brand.
