April 21, 2026 - (Berlin, GER) At the ZIV’s annual general meeting in Hamburg on 17 April 2026, the members further defined the association’s future course. They agreed unanimously for the ZIV management to prepare the 2027 merger with Zukunft Fahrrad. Two new members were elected to the board and attendees received an exclusive preview of the new congress for the bicycle industry that will premiere in November 2026. ZIV CEO Burkhard Stork also introduced the new international trade fair set to make its debut in autumn 2027.
Despite the ongoing challenges, the bicycle industry has ambitious plans. The 2025 market data that the industry associations published in March shows the sector stabilising and remaining a reliable driver of long-term value creation – with new opportunities boosting optimism. This cautious optimism was further reinforced at the ZIV’s 2026 general meeting.
Green light for association merger
At the AGM in Hamburg, the ZIV member companies unanimously approved preparation of the 2027 merger with Zukunft Fahrrad. The two associations plan to pool their expertise and leverage synergies to represent the bicycle industry with one strong, unified voice in the future. The two associations already cooperate closely on a range of common topics and projects; the merger is seen as the logical next step towards maximising efficiency, both internally and externally.
Two new additions to ZIV Board
After granting discharge to the board and management, the attendees elected several new members to the ZIV Board and Presidium: Guido Müller (Busch & Müller KG), who has long been active on the board, was elected to the Presidium, while Bernhard Lange (Paul Lange GmbH & Co. KG) and Volker Thiemann (AT Zweirad GmbH) were also confirmed as Presidium members.
Effective immediately, the ZIV Board has two new members, namely Annalena Horsch (Coboc GmbH & Co. KG) and Oliver Venohr (Büchel GmbH & Co. Fahrzeugteilefabrik KG). Together with the Presidium members, along with Claus Fleischer (Robert Bosch GmbH – Bosch eBike Systems) and Britta Sieper (PUKY GmbH & Co. KG), who were both confirmed as board members, they make up the new seven-person management team.
After 16 years on the ZIV Board and in the Presidium, Wilhelm Humpert (Wilhelm Humpert GmbH & Co. KG) did not stand for re-election. Fabian Auch (MAGURA Gustav Magenwirth GmbH & Co. KG) also stepped back from the board after 10 years. The new management team and meeting attendees thanked the pair for their outstanding commitment and the enormous amount of time invested in the association and in shaping the future of the bicycle industry over many years.
New “Towards Tomorrow” Congress unveiled
ZIV members were given an exclusive preview of the «towards tomorrow – Cycling Industry Convention 2026» (formerly vivavelo) that will premiere in Berlin on 5 November. The ZIV will host this new format together with the Verbund Service und Fahrrad (VSF) and Zukunft Fahrrad. «The name says it all – it reflects the spirit and direction behind this new format: with this, we express our ambition to be a future-oriented industry and also give ourselves both a guiding star and opportunities to exchange,» says ZIV CEO Burkhard Stork of the associations’ aim and intent. Information on the congress programme and tickets will be released at the end of April.
New international trade fair to debut in autumn 2027
ZIV CEO Burkhard Stork also reported on the unsuccessful negotiations to contribute to the future course of what was once the leading global trade fair. As the bicycle industry was ultimately unable to exert any real influence, the association felt compelled to act. Hence it is now working with determination to develop its own leading international trade fair with a European reach.
Insights into Hamburg’s cycling infrastructure and views over the Alster
On the short walk to the ZIV industry meet beside the Outer Alster, the team from Hamburg’s Authority for Traffic and Mobility Transition shared real-life insights into the city’s cycling infrastructure. Attendees were then welcomed to the tradition-rich Allemannia von 1866 rowing club by Kirsten Pfaue, who heads the mobility division. They were then free to mingle with guests from the political sphere, business and the media, and enjoy the evening views over the Alster while sampling some Hanseatic specialities.
