Why e-bikes are leaving electric cars standing: MIFA CEO Peter Wicht in discussion at eMobility Summit 2013
(firmenpresse) - (DGAP-Media / 28.06.2013 / 10:10)
Why e-bikes are leaving electric cars standing: MIFA CEO Peter Wicht in
discussion at eMobility Summit 2013
Sangerhausen, June 28, 2013 - The Third eMobility Summit, a two-day
conference on the future of the e-mobility in Germany, was launched
yesterday at the headquarters of the Berlin national daily 'Tagesspiegel'.
Around 400 representatives from the automotive and energy sectors join
policymakers and scientists to engage in podium discussions and specialist
lectures on this topic. Guests invited yesterday included Peter Wicht, CEO
of the largest German bicycle manufacturer in terms of sales, MIFA
Mitteldeutsche Fahrradwerke AG - along with personalities such as the
German Federal Minister of Transport, Dr. Peter Ramsauer, German Federal
Minister for the Environment, Peter Altmaier and Dr. Dieter Zetsche, CEO of
Daimler AG.
Peter Wicht discussed the topic 'Learning about two-wheel vehicles means
learning how to market' along with further representatives from the
two-wheel sector - including Stefan Gulas, inventor of the eROCKIT, an
electrically motorised bicycle/motorcycle hybrid, Frank Müller, former
managing director of the German Federal eMobilität Association and managing
director of Urban-e MSC GmbH, and Patrik Tykesson, who founded e-bility
GmbH with his two brothers and markets a retro design electric scooter.
Further discussion partners included Klaus Dittko, management board member
of Scholz&Friends Group, the international lead marketing agency for car
manufacturer Opel.
'E-bikes' triumph is a result of social megatrends,' noted Wicht. 'Traffic
jams, pollution, the shortage of parking spaces - traffic threatens to
seize up entirely on a daily basis, especially in major European cities.
You can often reach a destination more quickly and flexibly with a bicycle
than with other forms of transportation because there's no need to follow
fixed routes or timetables. At the same time, you save money, make a
contribution to the environment and keep moving. You can also have a lot of
fun on an e-bike - without working up a sweat. The e-bike megatrend has
only just begun.'
Wicht is of the opinion that the two-wheeler and automotive industries can
learn a lot about e-mobility from each other. He also thinks that the
automotive industry can serve as a model for MIFA's future as far as brand
strategy is concerned: 'I increasingly regard MIFA as a 'house of brands':
we offer different brands on a single platform that are precisely tailored
to certain target groups. The more complex and expensive the e-bike, the
more intensively customers research the products they're looking for.
Brands will become increasingly important in the future as a consequence.'
Wicht also notes that a transfer of technological knowledge is occurring
between the two sectors: 'Our cooperation with smart represents a quantum
leap in the history of e-bikes. We jointly developed a production system
for the 'smart e-bike' which meets automotive standards, and which is
unique within the bicycle sector as far as I am aware. At the same time,
MIFA has been delivering daily proof of its expertise where bicycles and
e-bikes are concerned. I hope we can make our know-how available to other
industrial partners,' as Peter Wicht went on to add.
About the company:
MIFA Mitteldeutsche Fahrradwerke AG, whichis based at Sangerhausen in
Germany's Saxony-Anhalt region, is Germany's largest manufacturer of
bicycles in terms of sales. The company produces an extensive range of
bicycle models ranging from entry-price through to premium. The components
utilised in bicycle production are purchased from renowned suppliers and
assembled at the company's single production location in Sangerhausen.
Business here focuses on project-related manufacturing to order for large
retail chains and OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) customers. E-bikes
have also been produced since the 2011 financial year. MIFA produces the
e-bike for automotive manufacturer smart, Deutsche Post's bicycle fleet,
and supplies municipal lending systems with multi-user vehicles. MIFA
acquired Berlin-based e-bike manufacturer Grace and Bavaria-based cult
bicycle forging company Steppenwolf in 2012, thereby intensifying its sales
activities with specialist dealers. MIFA sells its bicycles primarily in
its domestic market in Germany. Further sales markets are located mainly in
Western Europe. Both the operating business and administration and
logistics are managed from the single production site in Sangerhausen.
MIFA sold 546,000 bicycles in the 2012 financial year (previous year:
644,000), generating EUR 111.3 million of revenue, representing a 10.7 %
increase compared with 2011 (EUR 100.5 million). E-bikes comprised 30.0 %
of total revenue (previous year: 12.5 %). After adjusting for acquisition
effects, the company generated adjusted operating earnings (EBIT) of EUR
2.9 million (previous year: EUR 4.6 million), and adjusted net income of
EUR 1.1 million (previous year: EUR 2.0 million). MIFA has been listed on
the stock market since May 2004. Its shares are traded in the Prime
Standard of the Regulated Market of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
Contact:
Mark Appoh
cometis AG
Unter den Eichen 7
65195 Wiesbaden
Telephone: 0611-205855-21
Fax: 0611-205855-66
E-mail: appoh(at)cometis.de
End of Media Release
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Issuer: MIFA Mitteldeutsche Fahrradwerke AG
Key word(s): Traffic
28.06.2013 Dissemination of a Press Release, transmitted by DGAP - a
company of EQS Group AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
DGAP's Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements,
Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.
Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de
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Language: English
Company: MIFA Mitteldeutsche Fahrradwerke AG
Kyselhäuser Straße 23
06526 Sangerhausen
Germany
Phone: 03464-5370
Fax: 03464-537251
E-mail: b.mirau(at)mifa.de
Internet: www.mifa.de
ISIN: DE000A0B95Y8
WKN: A0B95Y
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard);
Freiverkehr in Berlin, Hamburg, München (m:access),
Stuttgart
End of News DGAP-Media
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Datum: 28.06.2013 - 10:10 Uhr
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