As of October 2025, one month after kicking off its key restructuring moves, European bicycle manufacturer Accell Group has made tangible progress in centralizing production and transforming its century-old Dutch facility. The updates align with the group’s August 2025 announcement (two months prior) and reflect its accelerated "One Accell" strategy under CEO Jonas Nilsson, who took office in April 2025.
Accell officially initiated production relocation in early September 2025, marking the first step in phasing out manufacturing at its Helmond factory in the Netherlands. The facility—currently responsible for 20% of the group’s total output, including Babboe/Carqon cargo bikes and high-end Koga Miyata models—is now gradually scaling down production. All its manufacturing lines are set to be fully transferred to Accell’s Hungarian base by the end of Q1 2026.
Parallel to this shift, Accell’s Dijon factory in France has begun ramping up final assembly work to support regional distribution across Europe. This follows the 2024 relocation of standard bicycle assembly to Hungary’s Toszeg site, making the central European country the group’s undisputed core production hub.
“In just one month, we’ve already moved key production processes to Hungary, streamlining workflows that once spanned multiple locations,” Accell noted in a late September 2025 update. “This isn’t just about cost-cutting—it’s about building flexibility to adapt to market demands faster.”
The September production shift comes on the heels of critical financial and operational prep work, launched after Accell reported a 22% year-on-year revenue drop (to €1.003 billion) in 2024. By mid-2025, the group had:
- Completed a capital restructuring to reduce debt and secure €235 million in additional liquidity.
- Slashed inventory to pre-pandemic levels and consolidated warehouses from 85 to 28 (with plans to cut further to 5 by 2027).
- Closed its German Ghost factory and downsized the UK Raleigh business to eliminate redundant capacity.
“These steps meant we were ready to act quickly when September arrived,” CEO Jonas Nilsson said in an October interview. “Early 2025 signs of market recovery are promising, but we can’t wait for a full rebound—consolidation now positions us to capitalize when demand picks up.”
While Helmond’s manufacturing operations wind down, Accell is already preparing to repurpose the site into its European design and engineering center. As of October 2025, the group is renovating office spaces to house 100 engineers and support staff, who will stay in Helmond to drive R&D for all Accell brands. The transition is set to finish by Q2 2026, shortly after production ceases.
The shift comes with difficult tradeoffs: approximately 160 production roles at Helmond will be eliminated. Accell has launched social support programs—including job training and placement services—to assist affected employees, a commitment Nilsson emphasized in recent stakeholder meetings.
Looking ahead, Accell is leveraging its restructuring momentum to address broader industry challenges. In October 2025, it began engaging with European insurance providers to push for relaxed blanket bans on e-bikes in workplaces and residential areas—a key barrier to consumer adoption.
The group also plans to align its 400 “E-bike Positive” certified retailers (a partnership with Australia’s ACT) with its new Hungarian production network. A high-visibility initiative to connect these retailers with streamlined supply chains is scheduled to launch in early 2026.
“September was the start, not the end,” Nilsson concluded. “With production on track to centralize, our R&D hub taking shape, and inventory optimized, we’re building a more resilient business—one that’s ready for the next phase of the e-bike market.”
