As of: February 20, 2024, 5:34 a.m
By: Vivian Werg
Comments
Press
Split
Cargo bikes are becoming increasingly popular in Germany's major cities.
But several models from a popular brand are being recalled.
There are acute safety concerns.
Munich – Whether transporting children, doing the weekly shopping or taking leisure trips in the surrounding area – cargo bikes can be used in a variety of ways.
They are becoming an increasingly popular means of transport, especially in large cities.
The Dutch cargo bike manufacturer Urban Arrow even predicts that Germany will be its largest sales market by 2025.
Several cities and municipalities promote this environmentally friendly means of transport and provide subsidies for cargo bikes with electric drives.
The city of Munich supports the purchase of a cargo bike with up to 750 euros.
A sales stop has been initiated in the Netherlands for a popular cargo bike brand - due to potentially serious safety defects.
Sales of Babboe cargo bikes are temporarily discontinued due to serious safety defects (symbolic image) © Imago
Sales stop in the Netherlands: safety of Babboe cargo bikes not guaranteed
Especially for families with children, cargo bikes are a great relief and an indispensable part of everyday life.
But as the Dutch Food and Consumer Goods Safety Authority (Nederlandse Voedsel- en Warenautoriteit (NVWA)) announced on its website, the Dutch bicycle manufacturer Babboe must immediately stop selling all of its cargo bikes.
E-bike manufacturer Babboe in profile:
The Dutch company has been developing cargo bikes for 15 years.
Babboe sells its products worldwide.
The company is one of the largest manufacturers of cargo bikes in Europe.
These “do not comply with the law and the safety of the cargo bikes is not sufficiently guaranteed,” explains the NVWA in the statement.
According to the authority, the reason for this measure is investigations that were carried out after there were indications of several frame breaks on the Babboe cargo bikes last year.
According to the bicycle manufacturer NVWA, the bicycle manufacturer did not follow up on these as required by law.
“Neither an investigation into the cause was carried out nor a report was made to the authorities,” it continues.
Cargo bike recall started in the Netherlands: These Babboe models are affected
According to the NVWA, broken frames on cargo bikes can lead to serious injuries, especially if they occur in heavy traffic.
Therefore, in addition to the sales stop, a recall was also requested for the following cargo bikes sold:
My news
Example calculation shows: This is how much you have to earn throughout your life to get around 2000 euros in pension
Supermarket customer writes shopping lists in a specific order - and hits the nerve of many readers
Monthly salary of 3500 euros gross – that’s how much is left over in the pension
Nasty scam in circulation: Numerous customers of ING and Sparkasse affected read
Parking offender reads traffic sign incorrectly – and receives 55 euro fine
100-year calendar with Easter forecast: This is how to read the weather
Babboe City/ City-E/ City Mountain
Babboe Curve/ Curve-E/ Curve Mountain
Babboe Big/Big E
Babboe Dog/ Dog-E
Babboe Max E
Babboe Mini-E/Mini Mountain
Babboe Pro Trike/ Trike-E/ Trike XL
Babboe Carve-E/ Carve Mountain
The recall also includes the models that were affected by the recall in 2019 and were modified.
In addition, we will examine together with the responsible public prosecutor's office whether there are grounds for a criminal investigation.
Babboe is also reacting in Germany - as a precautionary measure, the sale of all cargo bikes is being stopped
The NVWA announced that it would inform other supervisory authorities in other EU member states about this.
It is currently unclear whether the German market will also be affected by the recall.
In view of the current measures, the Dutch bicycle manufacturer is also reacting in Germany and is already informing its customers on its website that it is “temporarily suspending the sale of all Babboe cargo bikes” as a precautionary measure.
Sales will resume as soon as the safety of the bikes has been sufficiently proven and complete technical documentation has been received from the authorities.
Until then, consumers who own one of the cargo bikes affected by the recall are advised to stop using them.
E-cargo bikes are more in demand than ever - here are five stylish alternatives to Babboe.
(vw)