LEVA-EU is very pleased to read that Messe Friedrichshafen is adjusting the dates for Eurobike 2019. Instead of the originally scheduled dates from 31 July to 3 August, the forthcoming 28th edition of the leading trade exhibition will now take place from Wednesday, 4 September to Saturday, 7 September 2019 in Friedrichshafen.
“The wish expressed by numerous market players to move Eurobike to a later date in future has received tremendous support both during and after the past trade exhibition. We are now pleased to be responding to this wish and are moving Eurobike back to its traditional date at the beginning of September,” announced Klaus Wellmann, Chief Executive Officer of Messe Friedrichshafen. The organisational concept of three days for trade visitors and the concluding show day addressing the general public will be retained.
Somebody left his/her glasses on a table at the LEVA-EU booth on the last day of Eurobike. The brand is Airdrop, the colour is black with grey ends. Let us know if they are your’s and we will post them to you.
During a presentation at EuroBike, e-bike importers discussed the ongoing anti-dumping investigation opened by the European Commission in October 2017 which may result in the imposition of duties on imports from China.
Importers expressed concerns that this investigation may deal a fatal blow to their businesses and the thousands jobs they represent. Indeed, duties as high as 189% on imports from China could kill off the affordable end of the market and severely restrict competition.
What’s happening? Following a complaint brought by the European Bicycle Manufacturer’s Association (EBMA) on 8 September, the European Commission opened an investigation into imports of e-bikes from China on 20 October 2017. Since 4 May 2018, the European Commission imposed the registration of all new e-bike imports with the competent custom authorities. By 20 July 2018, Brussels will decide whether to impose provisional duties on e-bikes. A final decision on definitive duties is expected in January 2019. In the meantime, they may decide to collect duties retroactively from importers.
Speaking at Eurobike, Annick Roetynck, LEVA-EU Manager, said: “The situation for importers is intolerable. Some importers have shipments waiting at sea. If they cannot be unloaded and sold, the importers lose their investments. If the Commission decides to collect duties retroactively, importers may lose their entire business. This is already punishment before a verdict was reached. The chaos and uncertainty created by this baseless procedure pose an existential threat to small businesses and the growing e-bike market in Europe.”
Moreover, the case is completely opaque and riddled with procedural absurdities. First of all, complainants refuse to make public the export data on which they based their complaint, which goes against the importers’ due process rights. Second, the European Commission is using Switzerland (!) as a benchmark to analyse prices in its investigation. Having compared the production cost between Switzerland and China, the Commission alleges a dumping margin of 193% to 430%.
Finally, the complainant failed to prove any injury to the European e-bike industry. As was maintained by LEVA-EU during various public hearings in front of the Commission, the profitability numbers of the EU producers in the sample have never been higher. Largely, that is because European e-bikes are leading the upper price segment of the market.
In response to continued violations of their due process rights, today a lawsuit against the European Commission has been initiated. The official case was logged on Tuesday 10 July 2018. Annick Roetynck, LEVA-EU Manager, said: “An application for annulment with the General Court of the EU has been filed. We are seeking the annulment of the registration regulation, which was neither based on facts nor imposed with due process and is effectively causing a chilling effect for the importer’s businesses.”
The imposition of 189% or higher dumping duties would seriously affect affordable e-bikes, just as they are rising in popularity. E-bikes are becoming more frequently used by young people, commuters, seniors and urban delivery services alike. At a time when the EU is struggling to reach its climate targets in transport and our cities are congested, Europe should work for sustainable mobility solutions rather than engage in unwarranted protectionist measures.
The Commission’s decision to register imports of e-bikes from China has caused great injury to the companies in the Collective of European Importers of Electric Bicycles and to many more SMEs throughout Europe. The uncertainty about potential retroactive collection of duties and the level of potential duties is causing enormous chaos.
To provide clarification on the case, LEVA-EU organizes an information meeting on the dumping case at Eurobike open to all interested parties.
LEVA-EU Manager, Annick Roetynck, will present an overview of what has happened so far and what is still to happen: the procedure, registration, retroactive collection, provisional duties, decision on final duties, … After the presentation, together with a few members of the Collective, she will answer all questions the participants may have.
Also, on behalf of the Collective, LEVA-EU has launched a survey to measure the injury.
Should the European Commission pursue the 189% duties as mentioned in the Registration Regulation, this will force many companies to close or to go bankrupt. The Registration Regulation is currently resulting in shortage of electric bike supplies, price increases and considerable losses.
The Collective of European Importers of Electric Bicycles wants to show to the Commission how many companies are affected and to what extent the Registration Regulation has and still is causing damage.
That is why LEVA-EU has, on behalf of the Collective, launched a short survey for importers, dealers or any other stakeholders in the electric bicycle business. Anybody affected by the anti-dumping proceeding in general, and the Registration Regulation in particular, is invited to help the Collective to show the European Commission the level of injury this is causing by completing a short survey low, which is available here:
LEVA and LEVA-EU have the pleasure of inviting you to join them for a get together on Monday 9 July 2018 at Eurobike. We welcome you at our booth, from 4.30 onwards, which is located on the first floor of the West Entrance, stand number FW-OG 101.
We invite you for a drink and a chat with a variety of colleagues, an excellent networking opportunity. This get together is an informal networking event, open to anybody with an interest in light, electric vehicles.
For further details, please contact Annick Roetynck, LEVA-EU Manager, email leva-eu@telenet.be, tel. +32 9233 60 05.
LEVA-EU is fighting, together with a group of European importers, against the anti-dumping proceeding concerning electric bicycles from China. The whole European LEV-business will suffer if anti-dumping duties are to be applied. A large number of companies will be forced out of business, the offer will shrink, prices will increase and consumers will be turned away from electric bicycles. Reduced competition will adversely affect research and development.
This case has been the single most important topic of conversation in the electric bike business this year and will be the topic of conversation at Eurobike. With that, a lot of rumours, fake news and alternative facts are going around, causing even more disruption.
LEVA-EU organizes an information meeting on the dumping case at Eurobike to tell the correct story, from our side of the fence of course. The information meeting is open to all interested parties.
LEVA-EU Manager, Annick Roetynck, will present an overviewof what has happened so far and what is still to happen: the procedure, registration, retroactive collection, provisional duties, decision on final duties, … After the presentation, together with a few members of the Collective, she will answer all questions the participants may have.
To ensure that your questions get answered at this meeting, we encourage you to send them in advance to leva-eu@telenet.be.
As the meeting takes place over lunch time, a modest lunch will be offered to the participants.
Come and meet us at Eurobike. LEVA and LEVA-EU share their traditional booth and invite you to join them for a drink on Monday, late afternoon. On Tuesday, you can get a full update on the dumping case in the LEVA-EU information meeting.
LEVA-EU and LEVA will share a stand at Eurobike. It is located on the first floor of the West Entrance, stand number FW-OG 101. It is a quiet corner where LEVA-EU and LEVA members can have meetings, take a break over a cup of coffee or where companies interested in LEVA-EU can meet up with us and explore a potential cooperation.
LEVA-EU is the only trade association that works exclusively for light, electric vehicles, including electric bicycles. LEVA-EU helps companies in the Light Electric Vehicle business find their way in the maze of European rules and regulations.
The association is managed by Annick Roetynck, who has more than two decades of experience in the sector. LEVA-EU Director of China Affairs, Dennis Hu, assists members in building bridges between the EU and China. LEVA-EU is closely linked to LEVA.
Both Annick Roetynck and Dennis Hu will be available for appointments on Monday 9 and Tuesday 10 July. Please send them a mail should you wish to meet up with them:
Annick Roetynck:leva-eu@telenet.be – WeChatID: Annick_Roetynck Dennis Hu: dennis@makeitchina.com – WheChat ID: Dennis HKT
On Monday 9 July, LEVA-EU and LEVA organize an informal get together for the electric bicycle business at their booth. LEVA Chairman Ed Benjamin and LEVA-EU Manager Annick Roetynck invite you to join them from 4.30 onwards for a drink and a chat with a variety of colleagues, an excellent networking opportunity. This get together is not limited to LEVA and LEVA-EU members but welcomes anybody with an interest in light, electric vehicles.
LEVA-EU is fighting, together with a group of European importers, against the anti-dumping proceeding concerning electric bicycles from China. This case has been the single most important topic of conversation in the electric bike business this year and will be THE topic of conversation at Eurobike. Unfortunately, a lot of rumours, fake news and alternative facts are going around, causing even more disruption.
LEVA-EU organizes an information meeting on the dumping case at Eurobike on Tuesday 10 July around lunch time to tell the true story, from our side of the fence of course. The information meeting is open to all interested parties.
We will present an overview of what has happened so far and what is still to happen. There will be ample opportunities for Q&A. All the more interesting, since the deadline for implementing provisional duties (21/07) will be very close by then. Further details to follow very soon.
To find out what LEVA-EU can do for your business, click here. Full details on LEVA-EU’s service package are here, and frequently asked questions here.
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