March 28, 2023 - (Taipei, Taiwan) Taipei Cycle 2023 concluded successfully on March 25 as this year’s exhibition welcomed the return of international buyers for the first time since the pandemic. In total, 4,200 international buyers from 81 countries attended the exhibition, with the top five buyer countries being Japan, South Korea, United States, Singapore, and Germany.
The exhibition saw a 66% increase in footfall, compared to the previous year, with a total of 14,800 domestic visitors and 2,800 general public visitors passing through its doors.
Industry leaders came together for the first time since the border reopened, creating new connections and paving the way for a promising future for the industry. It provided many opportunities for visitors to interact with leading international brands and supply chain companies, whilst focusing on five key themes including; resilient supply chain, digital connections, vibrant innovations, dynamic lifestyle and sustainable moves.
Sustainability in mind
Sustainability was a key focus for Taipei Cycle 2023, and the show hosted several forums including the Cycling and Sports Fitness Industry Forum, featuring sessions focusing on “sustainable innovation” and “sports technology”, respectively. Leading companies from across Europe and the US, alongside domestic academic experts, shared their observations with over 400 industry professionals in attendance.
The Taipei Cycle d&i awards winners were announced on the opening day, with 46 winners altogether, and seven designs claiming the converted Gold Award. French eBike battery manufacturer Gouach received the Gold Award – Green Prize, for their eco-designed Lithium-ion battery, a design that offers the ability to service a battery pack by swapping out individual cells and ultimately extending the lifespan of the product.
During the exhibition, the World Bicycle Industry Association (WBIA) released the Bicycle Sustainable Supply Chain Principles, which suggests that to obtain maximum environmental benefits, the bicycle industry as a whole must adjust its supply chain and production processes. The WBIA also promoted industry recognition and communication through member leaders sharing best practices in clean energy, carbon reduction, environmentally friendly design, and materials.
Visitor engagement and interaction
A number of dynamic activities were organized to enhance the experience for attendees during the opening days. The “Ride Together” event, hosted by Taipei Cycle for the first time, provided international visitors with a half-day cycling event, and an exclusive opportunity to ride alongside former-professional road cyclist Simon Gerrans. The event aimed to promote low-carbon travel while allowing visitors to experience the beauty of Taipei. Additionally, Taipei Cycle’s Outdoor Demo area offered various routes for test riding, giving attendees the opportunity to try out a wide variety of bikes in real-world conditions. These engaging activities brought a vibrant energy to the exhibition and further enriched the overall experience for participants.
Brad Buxton, Business Development and Sales at Lezyne, said: “The Taipei Cycle show has been a great opportunity to reconnect with people. This year, the atmosphere has been incredible and it has proven that there is still a lot of optimism for the future from across the industry.”
Dave Evans, APAC Region Sales Director at SRAM, said: “We were amazed at how busy and vibrant the show has been this year. There’s been a lot of footfall and the show has given us the opportunity to have some brilliant meetings with customers, from distributors to OE partners. This is really the first time in over three years that the industry has been together again, and it’s been a terrific three days.”
Peter Ladman, General Manager of Wilderness Trail Bikes (WTB) said: “Taipei Cycle has been very important to WTB as a business for the last 15 years, but the pandemic caused us a lot of disruption. It’s great to be back here in Taipei this year, the show has been extremely busy and it’s so good to see the industry meeting in person once again.“
Taipei Cycle 2023 continues online through the DigitalGo website until April 7.
Plans are now underway for 2024, which will see Taipei Cycle return to Nangang Exhibition Hall 1 and 2 from 6-9 March.
For more information, please visit the official website here.
