Industry associations of the bicycle sector have joined forces in the new World Bicycle Industry Association (WBIA). This new non-profit organization was officially founded in Switzerland in December by the Bicycle Association of Japan (BAJ), the U.S. Bicycle Products Suppliers Association (BPSA), the Confederation of the European Bicycle Industry (Conebi) and the Taiwan Bicycle Association (TBA), with the objective of representing the bicycle, e-bike, bicycle parts and accessories industry on a global level. The organization will actively participate in the technical meetings at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva where the different working parties of the World Forum for the Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) discuss technical matters that are of interest to the bicycle industry, such as safety, lighting or noise. The president of the WBIA is René J. Takens, the president of Conebi, who will remain at the helm of WBIA for the first two years. Takens recently resigned as president and chief executive of the Accell Group.

Topics