10 years: Bosch celebrates e-bike ride from being a start-up to one of its leading lights

Now with a fully fledged separate e-bike division, Bosch has taken time out to celebrate its first decade in the electric assist sector.

In 2009, Bosch eBike Systems was established as a start-up within the group, given the scope to develop and use available Bosch expertise including cordless tech from power tools, electric motors, electronics and sensors in the automotive sector.

“10 years ago, we started out with a handful of employees who believed in the pedelec, demonstrating excitement and a lot of personal commitment,” said Claus Fleischer, CEO of Bosch eBike Systems. “Nevertheless, none of us would have expected what success story would develop from these beginnings.”

Following the launch into European markets, subsidiaries were opened in North America and Asia as early as 2014, and in Japan since 2017. Now, more than 70 significant brands are “epowered by Bosch”, the brand says.

Fleischer added: “Our goal for the future is to remain one of the market’s main movers and shakers by developing innovative solutions for bicycle mobility and by inspiring people. We are confident that the eBike is a significant response to megatrends such as urbanisation, connectivity, mobility and climate protection. To this end, we aim to continue to make a contribution with pioneering products and services relating to the topic of Connected Biking.”

The former Bosch eBike Systems business unit will become an independent division as of 1 January 2020. Until now, Bosch eBike Systems has been part of the Automotive Electronics division. Based on its business model with the focus on the bicycle market, Bosch eBike Systems will be “able to respond more flexibly to the specific requirements of the bicycle industry in future.”

Bosch eBike has also summarised its innovation milestones of that last decade: “It all began with an idea: a sophisticated system solution in which all components fit perfectly together. The first eBike drive system from Bosch celebrated its debut at Eurobike in 2010 and went into production in February 2011. Two years later, the Active Line and Performance Line drive units were launched, specially developed for city trips and touring. This development continued in 2015: With the Performance Line CX, Bosch eBike Systems designed a powerful drive to meet sporty ambitions – and significantly defined the e-MTB sector through the Uphill Flow campaign. In 2014, Nyon was brought to market as the first connected, all-in-one on-board computer in the bicycle industry. Together with an online portal and an app, it unites an eBike controller, navigation system, fitness trainer and access to the online world in a single device. The acquisition of COBI.Bike in 2017 extended the company’s portfolio of products and competences in the field of connected products and services by adding smartphone-based solutions. The introduction of the PowerTube 500 in the same year set standards in the field of design integration. In addition, the launch of Bosch eBike ABS, which went on sale in 2018, once again confirmed how eBiking can be made even safer through electronic systems.”