The Leaders’ Breakfast was a huge success, and proved to be one of the highlights of Eurobike 2018.

The networking breakfast brought together experts and stakeholders in the mobility industry, in an exchange of dialogue, discussion and networking. Over a 150 presidents and CEOs from major mobility companies across Europe met to hear five speakers give their expert opinion on the future of the industry and pertinent advocacy topics.

Tony Grimaldi, CEO of Cycleurope, launched the event by welcoming the audience, and thanking ADFC and Eurobike for their collaboration on such an important event, which had achieved a record turnout.  He explained how meetings like this can enable key actors in the industry to assemble, and keep informed on important issues and trends together.

The welcome address was followed by an introduction of the keynote speaker, Professor Wolfgang Schultz of the Zeppelin University’s Center for Mobility Studies.

Professor Schultz shared his insight on how mobility industries see the future, and emphasizing the importance of the mobility market. He highlighted how much can be learnt from the strengths and weaknesses of the car industry, especially in regard to e-bikes and other new cycling technologies. This led to a discussion on what the industry is doing well, where it faces challenges and the opportunities this presents for cycling. Professor Schultz concluded on an optimistic note, listing the potential of cycle logistics and connected mobility.

After the keynote speech, the talk turned to discuss pressing advocacy concerns. Bernhard Ensink, ECF’s Secretary General outlined
relevant EU advocacy topics. Case studies that he examined included the European Cycling Strategy, which has the potential to boost bicycle sales by billions of Euros, and the extension of VAT to e-bikes. He addressed the much anticipated topic of the Motor Insurance Directive, explaining how the Commission’s proposal to make insurance on e-bikes compulsory is a challenge that affects the industry as a whole and
what companies can do to join ECF in fighting against this proposal.

The third speaker to take to the stage was Burkhard Stork, executive director of ADFC, who turned to advocacy issues on a German level.  He explained what can be done in Germany, and the significance of Germany to the whole EU market. He stressed that what was done to tourism can and should be applied to urban mobility; infrastructure being key.

ECF’s Development Director Kevin Mayne followed with a briefing on how the industry can be strengthened. He contended that the success-ful strategy of growing the market through greater cycling needs to be combined with a strong industrial presence. He drew on the example of the EU’s proposal to invest €40billion in research and innovation, all marked for strengthening the industry, and stressed that our presence as the industry is essential.

Tony Grimaldi concluded by stressing the important work of advocacy, the work ECF is doing and why every company should join the Cycling Industry Club. Six new members of the CIC were already announced at the summit, and more to come!

ECF's Cycling Industry Club would like to thank its co-hosts ADFC and Eurobike.

The credits for the pictures go to Martti Tulenheimo from our Finnish member Pyoraliitto.