The Netherlands

Sixty parties have expressed interest in a relaunch of the bankrupt bicycle manufacturer Accell, known for brands such as Lapierre, Batavus, Koga, Babboe, and Raleigh.

The introduction of an updated certification standard for electronic security systems on e-bikes is intended to further reduce theft figures. An estimated 100,000 e-bikes are stolen every year, just in the Netherlands. Official statistics on e-bike thefts in other EU countries is not available. However, as e-bikes become more valuable, strong security is also becoming more important.

In the fall of 2027, CycleExpo Amsterdam aims to become an industry meeting point for OEM brands and suppliers from around the world. Using the cycling culture of the Netherlands and Amsterdam's international accessibility as key advantages, the new fair proposes a dedicated purchasing platform for OEM stakeholders in the cycling industry.

Accell Group's bankruptcy has created significant uncertainty in the industry. Throughout the value chain, companies are closely following all developments around the potential takeover. September is the best time in Europe for retailers to decide which brands to offer in their shop next year and to order 2027 models. Retailers are now unsure what to do, as they can't wait too long.

Revenue amongst Dutch bicycle retailers increased sharply in every month of the second quarter of this year, rising by an average of 13.3%. In the first quarter, revenue growth compared with the previous year was just 1.6%. The second quarter of 2026 was therefore exceptionally strong, according to figures from the H&L Benchmark Group. In the first six months of 2026, revenue increased by a total of 8.6% compared with the same period last year.

Swapfiets continued its path towards profitability in 2025, with the Amsterdam-based bicycle subscription company nearly halving its net loss while increasing revenue. CEO Marc de Vries says the company could reach profitability if the current trend continues.

In 2027, CycleExpo Amsterdam aims to create a major meeting point for OEM producers and buyers of the cycling industry. In an attempt to bring the industry together, the organisers are reaching out to stakeholders to shape the new trade show together.

The trustees overseeing the bankruptcy of the Dutch Accell entities today launched an international sales process for the group, inviting potential buyers to bid for the business as a whole or in part. A back-stop agreement with an interested party covering all of Accell's bike brands is intended to provide business continuity while the sales process takes place.

Optima Cycles and Bike&Co have entered a strategic supplier partnership for the German market partnership. Effective from 1 August 2026, the brands Lovens, Dolly and Dutch ID became part of Bike&Co's supplier programme for its affiliated independent bicycle retailers.

In June this year, Accell Group decided to integrate Sparta into Batavus as part of its One Accell strategy. The disappearance of the brand Sparta struck a chord with former leaders of the iconic Dutch bicycle brand. For Mark Kuper, who spent no fewer than 28 years at Accell and served for many years as Sparta's Commercial Director and public face, the decision is bittersweet. "When you see how much energy was invested in this brand, it's a devastating blow."

Speed pedelec brand Klever Mobility has been acquired from Kymco in a management buyout by its current directors, Jan van der Ligt and Ruud Sjamaar. The transfer of shares was completed on 21 July 2026, but financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. This marks the start of a new chapter for Klever as an independently managed European organisation.

The Amsterdam District Court has revoked the suspensions of payments of the Dutch Accell companies and simultaneously declared these companies bankrupt, the two court-appointed trustees announced this afternoon. The multiple attempts to keep the once giant of the bicycle industry afloat have failed, marking a major setback for the industry.

Next year, the cycling industry is seeing an overhaul of the trade show calendar. Multiple major shows are opting for different dates, while two newcomers wish to join the calendar. One such debutant is CycleExpo Amsterdam. With a clearly defined character and affordable costs, it aims to become the new OEM meeting point for the bike industry.

Accell Group Holding B.V. and its Dutch subsidiaries have been granted suspension of payments, bringing months of restructuring efforts to a new phase after the company was unable to secure a long-term solution for the business.

The announced acquisition of Accell Group by DuTech Holdings will not change anything regarding the collective damage claims filed against the Accell brand. This was stated by the claimant foundation, which is taking legal action on behalf of thousands of Babboe owners who have suffered damage due to unsafe cargo bikes.

The transfer of Accell Group to the new owner, the Singapore-based investment firm DuTech Group, passed another regulatory milestone. The Polish anti-competition authorities, UOKiK, identified no concerns significant enough to justify remedies or prohibit the transaction, and therefore approved the acquisition.

Following well-documented financial struggles over the last few years, Accell today has stated that the last debt reduction has further stabilised the company, "while additional funding enabled Accell to accelerate the execution of the final steps of its transformation." As it prepares for this season with a sharpened portfolio of new models and a significantly leaner build after divesting non-core brands, is the once mighty Accell Group now out of the woods?

As Europe continues to see widespread adoption of the bike-leasing model, the development of two new programs shows how the model is diversifying. The standardised bike-leasing format has taken over corporate offices, offering employees an alternative path to bike ownership with swanky new e-bikes for a reduced overall cost.