The LEVA-EU member has announced that its Aeres brand has a new addition to its range, a cutting-edge e-bike model innovated to deliver smooth and comfortable rides for daily urban commuting and light touring.
Developed at BCF’s factory in Beringen, Belgium, the new Aeres Antwerp PL5 is described by Belgian Cycling Factory (BCF) employees as delivering “More power, less weight”, boasting the following features for effortless rides:
Bosch Performance Line with Powertube battery
Shimano Nexus 5 with Gates belt drive
Redesigned lightweight frame
MIK HD carrier system
More about the standout features of the Aeres Antwerp PL5
As an e-bike created for daily use, urban riding, and light touring, this e-bike’s Bosch Performance Line mid-motor provides smooth and natural pedal assistance for powerful and intuitive rides. For improved comfort, the bike features a low-step-through lightweight frame and an upright riding position. Its combination of a Shimano Nexus 5 internal gear hub with a Gates belt drive brings a durable and low-maintenance drivetrain. The Aeres Antwerp PL5 also features an MIK HD carrier that’s compatible with a wide variety of accessories for carrying loads of up to 27 kg.
More information about the Aeres Antwerp PL5 can be accessed on the Aeres website.
LEVA-EU member OEMBikes is presenting their stand at China Cycle in Shanghai as the perfect meeting place and a spot for recharging during the show. They are teaming up on their lounge-style stand with electric drive systems specialists T&D, inviting visitors to discuss technology, business cooperation, and the future of electric mobility.
OEMBikes is an end-to-end e-bike and parts supply partner for the bicycle industry, and was recently selected as the bicycle supplier for Budapest’s next-generation public bike-sharing system.
On stand W5-1309 at China Cycle, which is located next to the metro exit, they are offering a convivial space geared towards a positive trade show experience for their visitors, and the creation of valuable new connections. This includes a meeting room available for quiet conversations, space for leaving luggage or a coat, plus coffee and an evening beer.
Their stand partner, T&D, is a specialist in future-ready solutions for the e-bike and e-motorcycle sectors. On the stand they will be showcasing the Equator electric moped and DP Pro electric motorcycle, plus semi-solid state battery systems for both e-bikes and e-motorcycles, and intelligent digital vehicle solutions for e-motorcycles.
Theo Lawant, OEMBikes CEO, and Sunny He, CEO of T&D parent company Gallop Electric, will both be on site, ready to discuss technology and cooperation opportunities with industry partners, clients and visitors to the stand.
The LEVA-EU member has announced support for its network to facilitate long-term rental of its electric bikes, with a special offer that’s available until 10 May.
The company notes the rising petrol prices as a key opportunity for the cycling industry in encouraging citizens to transition to electric bikes.
Thanks to NEOMOUV’s partnership with GreenLeaze, the French e-bike brand has announced a simple and effective offer to support dealers in promoting long-term rental of NEOMOUV bikes to customers with:
Quick in-store validation
Secure payment within 15 days
Any administrative management
NEOMOUV is also offering concrete commercial leverage for triggering the sale with:
Up to €100 refunded on the last tank
This exclusive offer is available until May 10. Interested companies can contact contact@neomouv.com or direct message the company on its social media channels.
At the recent Velofollies trade show, market research specialists GfK gave a presentation reviewing the status of the Belgian cycling retail sector in 2025 compared to 2024. Sales volume, particularly for e-bikes, was relatively strong, however profit margins are under pressure, with sales via leasing schemes a contributing factor.
The GfK presentation drew on information from Belgian newspaper De Standaard, and shared headline figures of a 7.7% rise in bicycle sales to 250,400 units and a revenue increase of 11.8%. Electric bikes accounted for over 80% of total revenue in 2025.
Bicycle leasing has bloomed in Belgium recently, with tax-advantaged employer schemes allowing their staff access to bikes – especially e-bikes – which some may normally consider outside of their financial reach. During the Velofollies presentation, it became apparent that the system has not been as financially attractive as expected for bicycle retailers, who have reported that leasing companies are forcing retailers to offer significant discounts.
The effect on profitability
Bicycle retailers typically expect to see a gross margin of around 30% on a bicycle, however leasing companies are demanding discounts of up to 10%. With the speed pedelec segment seeing over 60% of sales generated through leasing, large bicycle retail chains are therefore barely profitable, or even operating at a loss. Independent bicycle shops are also affected, as some leasing companies operate their own distribution points, placing a limit on the role and income of smaller, independent retailers.
Thomas Vanderhoydonck, of Fietsen De Geus and chairman of the Traxio Velo advocacy group, said to De Standaard: “The profit margin on a private customer is simply higher. Moreover, leasing customers also involve more work because there’s more administration involved.”
The government’s role
De Standaard has highlighted that the government’s role in the bicycle sector raises questions. Through Participatiemaatschappij Vlaanderen (PMV), an independent organization owned by the Flemish government, there are links with various cycle industry entities. Examples include a loan to Fietsen Wildiers, which was recently converted into an equity stake; Wildiers has grown to become the largest bicycle chain in Flanders after making several acquisitions. PMV is also a shareholder in the Aska Bikes brand, raising questions about market conditions and competition.
The LEVA-EU member has posted a festive themed promotion with Father Christmas riding around town on its latest model, the Xcite, drawing a lot of smiles from passers by, capping off a fantastic year for the company.
Boasting up to 80Nm of torque, the Xcite, launched in November 2025, is equipped with a weld-free frame, a discreet and powerful Nexus belt drive alongside other crowd-pleasing features.
Vyber has had a fantastic 2025, from launching its Xcite e-bike, to winning the FD Gazelle 2025 Award that celebrates the performance, stability and entrepreneurship of businesses.
At the beginning of December, China introduced strengthened and stricter regulations on domestically produced electric bikes, which will also enhance the safety of Chinese-manufactured products entering international markets. The new rules follow a mandate earlier this year on EV battery fire prevention measures.
A new regulation, GB 17761-2024, means that every Chinese e-bike sold within China must have a valid China Compulsory Certificate (CCC), which supercedes any previous standards applicable to such products.
The rules include obligatory safety testing for battery issues such as thermal runaway, as well as a stipulation that there must now be digital communication between the battery and charger before the charging process can begin.
Batteries and chargers will be subject to separate CCC certification, meaning that all electrical components of e-bikes are subject to the same standards, including components that are made available independently from complete bikes.
Detail of new regulations
Certification: Mandatory CCC marking indicating compliance with GB 17761-2024 regulations.
Battery safety: Lithium-ion batteries and their respective chargers must be CCC compliant. Batteries need to pass a set of set safety tests, which will ensure that a single defective cell does not cause a fire or explosion. The battery and charger must communicate before charging commences, to ensure proper compatibility. Abnormal temperature detection must trigger an alarm.
Materials: The e-bike’s construction must contain no more than 5.5% non-fire resistant plastics.
Defence against tampering: Battery, controller and charging components must be interoperable, and designed with a level of security that makes tamper attempts harder. All newly produced e-bikes must make it impossible to have their speed limits adjusted.
GPS: The new rules encourage features such as GPS integration, real-time communication and dynamic safety monitoring. This is to help end-users track their e-bikes and to enable safety alerts. Electric bikes built for commercial use must be equipped with Beidou positioning chips.
According to figures revealed by market research company NielsenIQ at a recent event, the Belgian bicycle market has seen a healthy uptick in overall sales in 2025, with e-bikes accounting for 66.1% of this figure.
The figures were presented at an event for the Belgian bicycle industry hosted by mobility organisation TRAXIO. The sales data is taken from cash-register figures from both individual retailers and large chains, but excludes direct sellers and suppliers such as Decathlon. Kristof Scheys of NielsenIQ said that this sales data represents 60-65% of the Belgian bike sales market.
Following a fall in in 2024, where sales of new bicycles dropped by 6.8%, in 2025 sales are up 13.6%. E-bikes account for 66.1% of the market in 2025, with cargo bikes having a 7.8% share and longtail bikes a 6.4% share. The average purchase price of an e-bike is €4,000; regular bikes have an average price of €1,700.
Further topics during the event included the latest developments in Europe’s e-bike battery regulations, and a discussion on circular e-bike leasing, alongside the potential for a repair index and sustainability index for bicycles.
A bicycle shop in Enschede, the Netherlands, has introduced a leasing scheme for custom and adapted bicycles, providing greater access to mobility for customers with additional needs due to age or illness, who may be hesitant about investing in a suitable model.
Landewé Fietsen, which has two branches in the town of Enschede, stocks various specially adapted bicycles including models from LEVA-EU member Van Raam, alongside more traditional bikes, e-bikes and cargo bikes.
Owner Wim Landewé has created the scheme, Noaberlease, which enables customers to lease a custom bicycle for €200-€300 per month, with maintenance, insurance and roadside assistance included in the cost. Landewé says, “A tricycle costs €7,000 to €8,000, and a tandem costs around €10,000 if it’s electrically assisted.” He acknowledges that this upfront cost can be a deterrent for many people, particularly if they are apprehensive about their ongoing ability to use a bicycle. He continues, “We think that’s a shame because we want everyone to have access to bicycle mobility. If only because people who are not mobile often end up socially isolated.”
The Netherlands’ leasing landscape
The launch of Noaberlease is not Landewé’s first foray into bicycle leasing. He was a co-founder in 2001 of the pioneering Twentse Samenwerkende Rijwielhandelaars (TSR), a collective of bicycle dealers which helped ensure that employees could purchase bicycles through tax-friendly plans.
Now, employees are more likely to lease through a company bike leasing scheme following their introduction in 2020. It was recently reported that a quarter of new electric bicycles in the Netherlands are leased through employers. Anouk Hiensch, Director of Lease a Bike, which provides both traditional and adapted models, says, “People appreciate not having to pay a large sum all at once for a good bike, making e-bikes accessible to all working Dutch people. Bicycles are becoming one of the most sought-after secondary employment benefits.” Heinsch goes on to observe: “An e-bike could replace a car for many people. We’re also seeing increased cycling thanks to company bicycles. There are advantages for employers too. Implementing the scheme is free of charge. And employees stay more energetic. Some employers consider this so important that they cover all the leasing costs.”
For Landewé’s private customers through Noaberlease, Wim Landewé sees clear advantages, with affordable costs and the ability to cancel after a year free of charge with no buyout agreement. “You can lease your customized bicycle. No large upfront investment, no setbacks, cancel anytime, free testing beforehand, and all-inclusive service and repairs. If you no longer need the bicycle, we’ll pick it up and you won’t have any further costs. If all goes well, you can take over the bicycle after three years.”
The LEVA-EU member announced that the partnership with Circuit Zandvoort will involve the company’s e-bikes being available for corporate cycling tours.
The Dutch Formula 1 circuit at Zandvoort is now offering a unique option for companies renting the venue. Corporate groups can enhance their F1 experience with a guided cycling tour by testing high-quality Dutch-manufactured e-bikes on the official Formula 1 track. This initiative combines the excitement of the circuit with a focus on mobility, wellness, and team engagement.
This latest initiative enables Circuit Zandvoort to integrate corporate social responsibility and sustainability into a distinctive and memorable experience, and comes after its CEO, Robert van Overdijk, visited the Opmaet Fietsen site last month.
For the e-bike manufacturer, the collaboration with Circuit Zandvoort represents an opportunity to promote vitality, mobility, and enjoyment at one of the Netherlands’ most renowned racing locations.
