All about bicycles, electric-assisted bikes, technology and safety in the press

In our daily work as we deal with bicycle safety, technology and user manuals we come across lots of safety risks. The most frequent ones are published in articles of the leading German special-interest magazines TOUR – Europas Rennrad-Magazin Nr. 1, BIKE – Das Mountainbike Magazin Europas Nr. 1 and E-Bike – Das Pedelec-Magazin to make this information important for the sector accessible to a wider public.

For many years now the Eurobike Show Daily accompanying the annual international Eurobike Show has given us the opportunity to publish our perspective on major developments in the cycle industry in full-page articles.

We also speak regularly in independent lectures about all topics relating to bicycle technology and bicycle market. In addition, we are regularly cited by further special-interest magazines or trade journals as well as more and more by radio and television and in their media reports, which shows us that we are completely right with our information. The section NEWS informs you about the latest news from our specialist fields. The reports and publications of this section are listed chronologically or according to topics of interest.

ACE Lenkrad 03.2021 03.2021
Reading time 3:30 minutes

E-bikes from car manufacturers

No matter whether Porsche, Jeep or VW: Well-known brands are paying attention to e-bikes, and this not for the first time. What can be expected from the new electric bikes of the car manufacturers?

Car manufacturers make a new attempt to enrich their portfolio with electric bikes. “It’s picking up speed”, says Dirk Zedler who as head of the bicycle test institute Zedler in Ludwigsburg is already now dealing with bicycles that will not be launched on the market until next year.

Currently, Porsche has joined forces with Rotwild, a specialist for sporty e-bikes. Two Porsche models have been manufactured there since this spring. The design originates from Porsche, the technical know-how from Rotwild. They are high-end products at expectedly high prices. It’s not the first time that car manufacturers offer e-bikes. Smart started in 2021 with a model, Audi cooperated with Winora and BH Bikes, and also Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Lamborghini, Ford or Toyota had their brand logo attached to e-bikes.

But often the projects failed due to high prices and a lack of service network. Peugeot as a traditional bicycle manufactuter presented a whole range of new electric bikes in summer 2020. However, there is currently no marketing in Germany because there is no sales and service network here. Nevertheless, German customers can order from the French webshop.
Now, two new players on the market want to make it better: Jeep e-bikes and VW. The Americans sell their low-cost models through Elektro Mobile Deutschland GmbH, a dealer network is being set up, maintenance and repairs are to be carried out via a mobile service or in partner workshops. And in Hanover, the engineers of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles have developed an e-cargo bike with additional service and maintenance offer. As regards the price, they will orientate towards the market. Let’s wait and see for the offers with which other car brands will appear on the market.

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Read the entire article online on page 16

Author: Stefan Weißenborn

 

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