SCHWEINFURT, Germany (BRAIN)—Accell Group is poised to enter the U.S. market with its Haibike brand next year, deepening the Dutch company’s commitment to North America.
Currie Technologies, the U.S. e-bike brand acquired late last year by Accell Group, showed two models of Haibike’s top-of-the-line XDURO e-bikes during Interbike, a platform set to launch in the U.S. next year. At Outdoor Demo, Currie displayed the EQ ‘cross bike equipped with disc brakes and suspension fork and the EQ 26-inch hardtail mountain bike. Both electric pedal-assist models use the Bosch e-bike system, which is widely spec’d on e-bikes in Europe, but has yet to debut in North America. Bosch is also planning an expansion into the U.S. with its successful system, once it gets its service centers set up. Kreidler, another German bike brand also showed its Bosch powered e-bikes at Interbike’s Outdoor Demo and is currently looking for U.S. distribution.
Haibike was a highlight for Currie at Interbike, and represents an important opportunity for the future, said Larry Pizzi, president and managing direct of Currie. The complete range includes 16 models with full suspension and women’s options.
“The XDURO mountain bike range drew the attraction of the American dealer audience and we believe this category could be the trigger for wide-scale dealer embrace of the E-Bike category,” Pizzi said.
At Interbike's Outdoor Demo last month, Currie’s vice president of sales Rob Kaplan said bringing Haibike to the U.S. underscores Accell Group’s commitment to the U.S. and the potential it sees for the e-bike market here.
"This is the tip of the iceberg,” Kaplan said. “There are lots of other things we’re going to start showing in the not too distant future.”
Haibike falls under the Winora Group, and is one of Accell’s best-known brands out of its portfolio that numbers 19 companies. It has been at the forefront of the e-mountain bike trend in Europe, its engineers gaining extra clearance on the frames by mounting the Bosch motor on top of the bottom bracket instead of below.
