The LEVA-EU member has announced the addition of Donna Simon to its team as COO, as the company looks to scale up its activities by optimising industrialisation, supply chain management, regulatory compliance, operational excellence, and fulfilment.
The UK company has stated its confidence in its latest recruit, with its founders having already worked with Donna Simon on shipping millions of products worldwide and scaling complex businesses from concept to full production.
Simon has over 20 years of experience in global operations, procurement, and logistics, having led supply chains end-to-end from product sourcing and NPI, to international fulfilment for multiple territories and regulatory environments.
CONVOY has said that as a key complex problem solver and executioner, their new Chief Operating Officer will ensure:
Industrialisation is done properly
Resilient global supply chains
Fulfilment that scales with demand
Regulatory compliance
Operational excellence that preserves margin and momentum
The LEVA-EU member has announced that its Convoy C.01 e-trailer system has won the prestigious product design award.
The system, which can upgrade any adult bicycle to become a utility vehicle for families and businesses, has been featured on the iF DESIGN AWARD website, outlining the quick mounting process of its proprietary rear-axle, powerful motor and capacity to transport up to 50 kg of luggage.
A key component highlighted was its patented wireless handlebar sensor combined with actuated rear-wheel steering to ensure perfect alignment of bike and trailer, to give the safety and feel of a longtail electric cargo bike with a lightweight trailer offering versatility and easy storage.
The LEVA-EU member is expected to launch its eagerly anticipated Convoy CO.1 hybrid cargo bike trailer and electric bike conversion system in summer 2026.
Having already won a German Design Award pre-launch, the Convoy CO.1 optimises any bicycle into a cargo bike with the assistance of a cargo trailer. For electric assistance, it also has a pedal-assist system inside its trailing wheel. The system attaches to a bicycle with patent-pending twin locking axle clamps, without requiring any tools.
The conversion kit is seen as game-changing with its functionality not requiring direct modification of the bike, so in theory, it shouldn’t compromise original bike warranties because the kit is a separate entity from the bike.
Specifications
Weighing 14 kg, the Convoy model has the capacity to carry up to 50 kg of cargo, making it a versatile trailer that can carry loads for a range of different purposes. Convoy has also stated that its 520 mm long rack system can be equipped with a pair of child seats.
Innovated to be compatible with all 26-inch to 29-inch wheeled bicycles, it is equipped with a built-in 357Wh battery, providing an assisted range of 30km, and delivers power with three assist levels. (For those who would prefer the trailer design without a pedal assist, the Convoy will be bringing a simplified CO.3 standard hub model to market.)
Convoy has also announced that it is equipped with a patent-pending active rear wheel steering to minimise wobbling, improving predictable handling.
In terms of extra features, it includes a bright rear light and comes with a digital app, which enables device registration and a digital motor lock, providing additional security for when riders are away from their bike.
It is anticipated that the Convoy CO.1 e-bike conversion will be priced at £1,999 or €2,299.
More information about the Convoy can be accessed on its dedicated website.
Comments Off on CONVOY wins Gold at German Design Awards 2026
British micromobility startup and LEVA-EU member CONVOY has been awarded Gold at the German Design Awards 2026, the highest accolade for Excellent Product Design in Bicycles and E-Bikes.
BRISTOL (February 6, 2026).- The German Design Awards are the international premium prize of the German Design Council. With a global reach and international reputation, they are among the most respected awards in the design landscape, honouring designers across product design, communication and architecture. Entries are judged by an international jury made up of renowned figures from business, academia, science, and the design industry.
Bristol-based startup CONVOY has received the highest honour: a Gold Accolade in the category Excellent Product Design in Bicycles and E-Bike with their innovative e-trailer CONVOY C.01, designed to simplify urban family mobility. The Gold distinction recognizes excellent, holistic, and innovative achievements in design that set forward-looking impulses for entire industries. In 2026, only 54 Gold projects were awarded across all categories out of 3,900 entries from 57 countries.
According to the Jury statement: “The subtle interplay of stability and flexibility makes CONVOY an impressively versatile mobility companion. The patent-pending inline architecture, combined with a wireless steering sensor and motorized drive, is equally convincing in form and function. Especially noteworthy is the accomplished execution, which unites elegant everyday usability with consistent user focus, setting a benchmark for forward-looking urban mobility.”.
The business was founded by Jonathan O’Toole and Joshua Richards in 2023 and is expected to launch in Europe and the United Kingdom in Summer 2026, with a waiting list now open. The business is backed by high calibre investors including Martin McCourt, former CEO of Dyson for 15 years, and Nick Wilkinson, former CEO of Dunelm and Evans Cycles. Jonathan O’Toole, CEO and co-founder of CONVOY, said, “We’re thrilled to be recognised as a Gold Winner at the German Design Awards 2026. With CONVOY, we’re offering families a fun, eco-friendly alternative to driving —perfect for the school run, short trips around the city and beyond. We’re excited to launch in the UK and Europe next Summer and to keep building innovative solutions to address the needs of urban families’.
The German Design Awards judges assess not only a high level of competence in design innovation but also a sharp focus on user needs and market dynamics. The coveted award makes the winning designs globally visible and opens up a valuable network with international reach to the companies and designers. The award ceremony will take place on 6 February 2026 as part of the Ambiente fair in Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
