Helkama, the parent company of LEVA-EU member Helkama Velox, has received the People’s Choice Award at the prestigious EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2025 Finland edition.
The annual EY event has been running for 40 years, and seeks to celebrate, support and connect founders and entrepreneurs around the world. The People’s Choice Award was presented to Helkama following a public vote; the company highlighted that the result was a great recognition of the company’s products and way of working, and extended warm thanks to all Helkama employees in building a positive corporate image.
The wider Helkama group of companies operates in a variety of industries; the Helkama Velox brand specialises primarily in the manufacture of modern, high-quality electric bicycles, designed, tested and manufactured in Finland for the varying conditions of the north.
Tomi Viiala, Co-Founder and CEO of LEVA-EU member Viiala, features in the latest Xraised podcast episode where he is interviewed about how his athletic discipline, visionary leadership and technological innovation are leading a new generation of high performance e-bikes that feel unimaginable today but indispensable tomorrow.
A former professional athlete turned global e-bike pioneer, Viiala’s journey has been defined by performance, reinvention, and purpose. After more than a decade leading Stromer, one of the world’s most renowned premium e-bike brands, he is now steering a new venture aimed at creating a category of high-speed, intelligent, and elegantly designed e-bikes that promise to transform the way people move through cities and traverse natural landscapes.
At Viiala, the mission extends beyond building another e-bike. The company seeks to engineer machines that feel unimaginable today but essential tomorrow. Backed by François Bennahmias, former CEO of Audemars Piguet, Viiala integrates the precision of Swiss engineering with luxury design and forward-thinking mobility technology. With a diverse global team of experts from over 20 nationalities—spanning aerospace, robotics, and automotive backgrounds—Viiala is positioning itself at the intersection of bicycles and cars, redefining what premium mobility can represent.
Throughout the conversation, Viiala reflected on how his athletic mindset continues to influence his leadership philosophy. He emphasized that while motivation may fade, purpose endures, and that a strong company culture built on trust, diversity, and shared vision remains the foundation of meaningful innovation.
Viiala’s bold ambition is to make the e-bike an aspirational symbol of freedom and status — transforming the mindset from “I take the car” to “I want to take the bike.” As global cities increasingly reimagine their transportation landscapes, Viiala aspires to be at the forefront of this evolution — where technology meets emotion, and mobility becomes not only faster but also smarter and more connected to human purpose.
The full podcast interview can be accessed on Xraised.
For more information about Viiala AG and its vision for the future of mobility, visit www.viiala.com
From 1 September 2025, LEVA-EU member and Dutch specialist bicycle manufacturer Van Raam officially became a supplier to the German purchasing organisation BICO Zweirad Marketing GmbH (BIKE&CO). The move gives affiliated BIKE&CO dealers access to Van Raam’s full product range.
The partnership will be introduced to the market at the BIKE&CO Order Festival in Kassel from 5–7 September, marking the first official opportunity for BIKE&CO members to experience Van Raam’s bicycles first-hand.
Meeting rising demand for special bicycles
Van Raam’s inclusion in the BIKE&CO network reflects a clear trend: demand for special bicycles is growing rapidly, both in Germany and internationally. While these models were once primarily associated with riders with disabilities, they are now increasingly sought after by seniors and consumers who value stability, safety, and comfort. This shift is opening up new customer groups for specialist retailers and creating opportunities for stronger, long-term customer relationships.
European production for the DACH market
With a history of more than 110 years in Varsseveld, Van Raam has established itself as an international leader in adapted and special bicycles. In addition to its Dutch headquarters, the company operates a production site in Poland. This dual footprint enables efficient distribution across the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland).
All Van Raam bicycles are developed, tested, and assembled entirely in Europe, a strategy the company says ensures high quality, reliable delivery, and faster service for dealers.
Opportunities for dealers
For BIKE&CO members, the collaboration expands their portfolio with a product category experiencing strong growth. It provides retailers with the chance to serve both healthcare institutions and private customers, while differentiating themselves from competitors.
At the same time, Van Raam gains a stronger foothold in Germany, reinforcing its position as a trusted, innovative brand with decades of expertise in the specialist cycling sector.
The UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling & Walking (APPGCW) warns of a “fake e-bike” safety crisis and calls for urgent Government action.
APPGCW has published a report titled “Unregulated and Unsafe: The Threat of Illegal E-Bikes”, which outlines “How fake e-bikes pose a safety risk and undermine the UK’s active travel efforts”. APPGCW also made an announcement to accompany the report’s release, which is shared in full below. APPGCW has also written to the head of Amazon UK, calling on the business to immediately stop sales of non-road legal cycles which are capable of travelling at 40 mph, as well as all equipment used to turn legitimate e-bikes into so-called “fake e-bikes”.
Similar concerns are being aired in Australia, where an increased use of electric-powered bikes for food delivery has been noted, and industry bodies are campaigning for legal changes to be made. “The rules are already there under the Road Vehicle Standards Act. But they’re being ignored by overseas sellers, by delivery platform operators, and increasingly by riders who use these bikes for commercial gain,” said Peter Jones, CEO of the Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce.
APPGCW Announcement
Unsafe e-bike products linked to fires and gig economy exploitation prompt calls for online marketplace regulation, scrappage schemes, and stronger protections for riders.
A new report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling & Walking (APPGCW) warns of a growing public safety and fire risk caused by the widespread use of unsafe, illegally modified e-bikes, referred to as “fake e-bikes”, purchased through online marketplaces and frequently used in the gig economy.
The cross-party report follows a detailed inquiry that took both written and oral evidence from fire services, police, industry bodies, gig economy workers, academics, and regulators. It finds that the UK’s lack of regulation and enforcement around e-bike safety is putting lives at risk, particularly among delivery riders operating in low-paid, high-pressure environments.
The report heard evidence that the current food delivery systems are comparable to the ‘sweated labour’ of England’s 1840s industrial revolution and that witnesses had “never seen people on a daily basis as badly exploited as food delivery riders”.
During the inquiry, the APPGCW was able to easily find e-bikes sold by major online retailers with 40 mph speeds described as ‘for city commutes’, and a 2000W bike with a throttle pictured being used on city streets; both are illegal. Another search on Amazon found an unsafe charger with an unfused clover leaf plug, and multiple charging cables supplied, both of which are considered a fire risk by experts.
Among the key issues identified in the report “Unregulated and Unsafe: The Threat of Illegal E-Bikes”:
– A surge in battery fires caused by unregulated e-bike conversion kits, low-cost batteries, and poor-quality imports.
– Exploitation of gig economy riders, who are incentivised to use faster, often illegal bikes to meet delivery targets.
– Online marketplaces selling unsafe products with little or no oversight, enforcement, or legal liability.
– Confusion for landlords, insurers, and transport operators, leading to blanket bans that affect users of legitimate e-bikes, including disabled people.
The report makes urgent recommendations, including:
– Calling on online retailers to immediately withdraw unsafe e-bike items from sale.
– Making online marketplaces legally accountable for unsafe listings.
– Working to create a government-backed e-bike safety kitemark in order to enable transport authorities and insurance companies to confidently lift e-bike bans.
– Reinstating ‘worker’ status for gig economy riders to guarantee rights and protections.
– Ending the Road-Legal Loophole that allows illegal vehicles to be sold under the guise of off-road use.
– Enforcing compliance from delivery platforms. Require delivery companies to run real-time compliance checks on the bikes used by couriers.
– Equipping police with new, simpler powers to seize unsafe e-bikes.
– Introducing a scrappage scheme for dangerous bikes used by couriers, funded by delivery companies.
Fabian Hamilton MP, Chair of the APPGCW, said:
“This is a crisis hiding in plain sight. While responsible cycling businesses continue to meet high safety standards, the rise of illegal and unsafe e-bikes, often bought online and used in the gig economy, has created serious risks for riders, the public, and the future of active travel. We need urgent action from Government and industry to stop unsafe products entering the UK and to protect those being exploited while trying to earn a living.”
The report highlights the need for a cross-departmental response and urges Government to act decisively through an amendment to the Employment Rights Bill and take on board the report’s recommendations for the upcoming Product Regulation and Metrology Bill to close dangerous loopholes, improve enforcement capacity, and support the shift to safe, sustainable transport.
LEVA-EU member Opmaet Fietsen has announced that it has moved its headquarters to a new location in Nijkerk in the Netherlands.
Opmaet Fietsen has announced that after a busy period of preparation, its staff have now moved into its new site at Arkerpoort 32 B in Nijkerk, and is also open for test drives, appointments and visitors.
Targeted searches of two warehouses in Wexford by Irish Customs Authorities have led to the seizure of over 4,000 e-bikes, plus undisclosed numbers of e-scooters and bike parts and accessories. The haul, illegally imported into the European Union, is estimated to be worth €4.5 million in retail value.
The Irish operation was conducted as part of a larger international initiative supported by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), in which several EU member states have worked together to tackle the unlawful import and sale of e-bikes.
OLAF has highlighted the potential repercussions of such illegally imported products entering the market. The e-bikes could have been sold to consumers without the VAT being paid, thereby undercutting legitimate e-bike sellers. The unpaid import duties associated with the Irish seizure are estimated at €2.8 million. Director-General of OLAF, Ville Itälä, said, “This case highlights the value of close cooperation between OLAF and Member State authorities in protecting the EU’s financial interests, ensuring fair competition, and safeguarding the integrity of the single market.
“By working closely with Member States, OLAF helps ensure that those who try to exploit EU rules are identified and stopped. Together, we are making it clear that such abuse will not go unchecked.”
LEVA-EU calls for greater market surveillance against illegal products and revision of anti-dumping measures for components
The Irish Customs operation can be seen as part of a broader effort across the EU to tackle customs fraud in the e-bike market. There was recent widespread reporting of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) launching a major investigation across several EU countries, focused on uncovering instances of disassembled e-bikes made in China and reassembled in the EU to avoid anti-dumping duties. LEVA-EU has made several statements in light of these developments, making the case for greater market surveillance which would help eliminate the proliferation of non-compliant e-bikes, and revision of the rulings around anti-dumping measures.
There have been well-publicised incidents recently of increased enforcement against non-compliant electric two-wheelers, such as several UK police forces seizing bikes from users which do not meet the definition of electrically assisted pedal cycles (EAPCs). PC Matthew Dilks of Suffolk Police summarised the situation succinctly when speaking to the BBC. “If an electric bike does not meet the standards then they are technically classed as motorcycles. They therefore need to be insured and registered and the rider needs to wear a crash helmet. You can have a normal mountain bike that has had a battery and a motor retrofitted to it that is completely illegal because it is too powerful and goes too fast.”
“Just like vehicle drivers, some people take responsibility and some buy these bikes without double checking and making sure they are legal. As always there are some people who are honestly going about their day and some who are consciously not following the rules. Either way it is important for us to educate, make sure we are strict, and have a zero tolerance approach to make sure members of the public are kept safe.”
The UK’s Bicycle Association (BA) has published a comprehensive E-bike Action Plan for the government, which aims to tackle the thorny topic of fires which are attributed to unsafe e-bike batteries.
The plan takes care to emphasise strongly that these fires are mainly caused by unsafe or incompatible products which have been sourced from poorly-regulated online marketplaces; this is in contrast to standards-compliant, safe e-bike products which are handled and sold by many of BA’s member retailers. The plan also highlights that the “gig economy” of delivery riders is one of the main catalysts in the demand for the unsafe products, and calls for reform of this sector.
The BA outlines three key actions required of Government:
Stop unsafe imports, particularly those reaching consumers directly via poorly regulated online marketplaces
Reform of the “gig economy” delivery sector, which drives demand for unsafe e-bike conversion kits, batteries and chargers, and incentivises the “tuning” or de-restriction of legal e-bikes
Close legal loopholes which permit the legal sale of non-road-legal e-bikes and conversion kits
BA Executive Director, Steve Garidis, said:
“Even the safest, fully legal e-bikes are being seriously reputationally damaged by association with fires in unsafe products completely beyond the UK industry’s control. The legitimate e-bike category in the UK is at serious risk as a result. E-bike sales have fallen significantly in recent years, in stark contrast to the worldwide trend, as users face repeated headlines about e-bike dangers, and consequent blanket restrictions on access and insurance.
Companies in the legitimate UK cycle industry take full legal responsibility for the safety of the products they supply. We think it’s high time that the online marketplaces and gig economy delivery companies take on that same responsibility, and that sales of non-road-legal e-bikes are banned.”
The plan also highlights that the UK cycling industry is already proactively helping consumers and other stakeholders (including premises managers and transport operators) to distinguish between reputable, safe e-bikes and high-risk products. Steps taken include:
Setting up a voluntary “BA register of safety-audited e-bike brands”, enabling consumers identify reputable brands
Establishing the “E-bike Positive Responsible Retailer Pledge” to identify shops committed the safe supply and repair of e-bikes and associated components
Publishing consumer guidance to assist in buying and charging safely
Engaging actively with key stakeholders including government, transport authorities, public transport operators and organisations, the insurance and underwriter industries, international standards development bodies, fire and rescue services, safety charities and more
In the London areas of Brixton and Richmond, initiatives are underway to promote cargo bike use among families and businesses, offering accessible, sustainable transport alternatives tailored to different community needs.
Last week, Brixton hosted the Cargos & Cakes event, drawing families, local leaders—and even dogs—for a friendly and informative gathering focused on using cargo bikes for everyday tasks like the school run. Organized by the charity Solve The School Run, the event served as both a social meet-up and an educational platform for families curious about making the switch to cargo bikes.
“It’s a big investment, and you want to ensure that it’s the right decision, so it’s great to be able to ask all those questions to other families, living similar lives to you,” said Annabel, a local parent, who came to the event.
To make cargo bikes more accessible, the organization provides a variety of models at its events. Many families have taken advantage of the Peddle My Wheels Try Before You Buy scheme, which allows monthly payments to ease the cost of ownership. Additionally, the OurBike initiative offers a community cargo bike that can be hired for just £3 per hour, enabling families to experience the benefits without a large upfront commitment.
Richmond extends scheme to local businesses
In nearby Richmond, the council is supporting businesses through its Good Move Scheme, which enables local enterprises to trial cargo bikes before making a purchase. The scheme allows businesses to test cargo bikes for tasks such as local deliveries or commuting between work sites. Following the trial, participants have the option to buy the bike at a discounted rate, continue renting it, or return it without penalty.
To further raise awareness, the council is hosting the Richmond Cargo Bike Fair on 15th June. The event will offer test rides, educational sessions on maintenance and safety, and expert guidance from local retailers and cycling specialists.
As London continues to promote active and sustainable transport, initiatives like those in Brixton and Richmond illustrate how targeted community engagement and flexible trial schemes can make cargo biking more accessible. By supporting both families and businesses with practical programs and public events, these boroughs are helping to pave the way for broader adoption of low-emission transport solutions across the city.
A recent report from the Clean Cities Network reveals that, in comparison to other European cities, German cities are lagging behind in creating child-friendly mobility environments.
While some initiatives, such as school streets, have been implemented, truly safe routes remain scarce with key features like 30 km/h speed limits and dedicated bike lanes still uncommon across much of the country. In contrast, cities like Paris, London, and Helsinki have made significant progress.
From May 5 to 25, tens of thousands are expected to join nationwide and European demonstrations during the “Roads Are for Everyone” action weeks. These will include Kidical Mass bike rides, school street initiatives, and bicycle buses — all aimed at making streets safer and more accessible for children, ultimately improving quality of life for everyone.
Simone Kraus, Spokeswoman for the Kidical Mass Action Alliance says “We are not making absurd demands. For years, we have been focusing on a traffic turnaround with the child standard: school streets, 30 km/h, safe cycle paths. This is a win for all generations! It’s great that the study proves exactly this connection with data. Now it is time for German cities to learn from European role models, show the courage to change and finally get started!”.
Calls for change in improving child-friendly mobility settings
Jens Müller, Deputy Director of the Clean Cities Network states, “Children who move a lot are happier, healthier and learn more easily at school. Safe routes to school should therefore be the norm in every city. Our neighboring countries show how this can be done. Anyone walking through Paris today, for example, hardly recognizes the city. Above all thanks to school streets, safe speed limits and protected cycle paths, which can also be implemented quickly and without great costs elsewhere.”
There are calls for leaders at all levels to prioritize child-friendly mobility, with the 2024 amendment to the Road Traffic Regulations being expected to bring more flexibility to German municipalities.
Supporting this push, the 2025 City Ranking on Child-Friendly Mobility evaluates 36 European cities based on child-centric transport planning, using criteria from the EU Commission and UNICEF. These include the percentage of primary schools with school streets, roads with 30 km/h speed limits, and the availability of safe cycling infrastructure.
Among German cities, Munich ranked 12th, Berlin 15th, Cologne 17th, and Hamburg 18th — results that highlight considerable room for improvement. Paris currently leads the ranking, with London boasting the highest number of school streets near primary schools, and Helsinki setting an example with its extensive network of protected bike lanes.
The latest findings underscore both the progress made and the challenges that remain in advancing child-friendly mobility across Europe. While cities like Paris, London, and Helsinki are setting strong examples, German cities have room for improvement. With upcoming regulatory changes and increased attention on the issue through events like “Roads Are for Everyone,” there is potential for municipalities to take further steps in prioritizing safe and sustainable mobility for children.
