International
TAICHUNG, Taiwan (BRAIN) — Despite concerns over protectionism, ongoing trade disputes and a continued slowdown in China, Giant Manufacturing Ltd. reported the second highest annual revenue in its history.
DETROIT (BRAIN) — General Motors is now accepting preorders in three European countries for its new e-bike line. The company also announced the results of its crowdfunding contest to give the bikes a brand name; the new name is ARĪV. The ARĪV line includes two models.
BATH, England (BRAIN) — U.K.-based publisher Future plc. has announced plans to buy CyclingNews.com and Procycling magazine from Immediate Media Co.
OSAKA, Japan (BRAIN) — Shimano is reporting a similar scenario as the rest of the industry: sales of complete bikes in North America declined last year in units, but increased in dollars thanks to a shift to more expensive models, including e-bikes.
STEINHAUSEN, Switzerland (BRAIN) — Skins, an Australia-born brand that made its mark with compression clothing, has filed for bankruptcy in Switzerland.
BRUSSELS (BRAIN) — As expected, the European Union has imposed duties on Chinese-made electric bicycles and e-bike components destined for the European Union.
SHANGHAI (BRAIN) — Multiple Asian news sites are reporting that bike share giant Ofo has dissolved its overseas business unit, retreating from operating in the U.S., Hong Kong, Singapore and France.
BEIJING (BRAIN) — Ofo, the world's largest and best known dockless bike share operator, is struggling financially, in part due to demands for deposit refunds from customers in markets where Ofo has stopped operating.
HEERENVEEN, Netherlands (BRAIN) — Accell Group N.V. said it is considering selling its North American business, Accell North America, or right-sizing it down to a profitable size.
SAN MATEO, Calif. (BRAIN) — GoPro Inc. plans to move most of its U.S.-bound camera production out of China by next summer to mitigate the potential impact of new tariff lists. Production of cameras bound for non-U.S. markets will remain in China.
LONDON (BRAIN) —The parent company of Rapha has filed an audited financial statement showing an operating loss of nearly 20 million pounds ($25 million) last year. The loss was due to exceptional administrative expenses incurred following the brand's acquisition in 2017; the company's gross profit was nearly 18 million pounds.
HELSINKI (BRAIN) — Private equity investor consortium Mascot Bidco Oy has made a cash offer to purchase all issued and outstanding shares of Amer Sports Corp., currently valued at 4.6 billion euros (about $5.2 billion). This excludes shares held by Amer Sports or its subsidiaries.
BERLIN (BRAIN) — When Shaun Paul Simmons first came to Germany, in 1997, it wasn't because of bicycles. "I came to Berlin for a girl and will now go back home for a girl," the American said with a laugh.
HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam (BRAIN) — Before the start of any U.S. and EU discussions of tariffs on e-bikes out of China, Taiwan frame builder Astro Engineering Co. Ltd. started to increase its aluminum and carbon frame production capacity in Vietnam.
BERGAMO, Italy (BRAIN) — Early Monday morning a group of masked robbers entered the 3T headquarters building here and stole all of the brand's display and demo bikes, including an Exploro frame painted by the late Dario Pegoretti.
AIMERE, Netherlands (BRAIN) — Pon Holdings has purchased 338,121 ordinary shares in Accell Group N.V., giving it a total of 5,332,769 ordinary shares, representing 20 percent of the company's shares.
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (BRAIN) — Tenneco Inc., a publicly traded U.S. automotive company with annual sales over $9 billion, has agreed to buy Öhlins, a Swedish suspension company that offers some bicycle products in addition to suspension for the motorsports industry.
AIMERE, Netherlands (BRAIN) — Pon Holdings, the parent company of bike brands including Santa Cruz and Cervélo, is making another bid to acquire a minority stake in Accell Group, the parent company of bike brands including Raleigh, Haibike and Diamondback.
ROTORUA, New Zealand (BRAIN) — Goodyear Bicycle Tires has signed Wide Open as its New Zealand distributor. Rotorua-based Wide Open will execute Goodyear's marketing efforts in its territories.
TAIPEI, Taiwan (BRAIN) — For Taiwan manufacturers, the first nine months of the year is a good news/bad news story.
The average unit price for a conventional bike soared 14.2 percent to $659, with sales topping $1.1 billion.