Accell Group, parent of the Haibike, Winora, Ghost, Batavus, Koga, Lapierre, Raleigh, Sparta, Babboe, and Carqon bike brands, will close its Heerenveen factory, ending all production in the Netherlands and resulting in the loss of about 160 jobs. The company will shift production to Hungary, and the factory there will be supported by a final assembly site in Dijon, France.
Accell expects to start the transfer of production in September, with the factory closure anticipated at the end of the first quarter of 2026. The Heerenveen factory accounts for approximately 20 percent of Accell’s total production.
Accell reported that the Heerenveen location will evolve into a “strategic hub,” focused on design, engineering and support. The team, comprising approximately 100 employees, primarily engineers and support staff, will relocate to a new office in Heerenveen once manufacturing operations are fully transferred.
Jonas Nilsson, CEO, stated, “Having been founded more than 120 years ago in Heerenveen, we have unique and deep expertise in design, product development and engineering of high-quality bikes here. Consolidating our production will allow us to significantly improve efficiency and focus fully on driving quality, productivity and innovation, rather than managing multiple, underutilized sites under intense international cost pressure for manual processes. It will also allow us to further improve delivery performance and strengthen product consistency across all brands. While we are seeing clear evidence that our strategy is delivering results and some first signs of market recovery, full recovery will take time. Therefore, we have decided to accelerate our Transformation Programme and further centralize production. Decisions that lead to redundancies are never easy, and we recognize the impact this has on our people. We will do our utmost to inform and assist affected employees in the best possible way. In our new set-up, we will be able to better leverage our scale and capabilities across production, logistics and operations, supporting our full portfolio of iconic brands.”
Accell, which has been owned by private equity giant KKR & Co. since 2022, stated that the Heerenveen factory closure represents the “next step” in its Transformation Programme, designed to optimize operations. Following a recapitalization finalized early this year, the company has reorganized its activities in Germany, the Netherlands and the UK, as well as in manufacturing, distribution and central functions. Inventory levels have been significantly reduced, and supported by increased efficiency, the number of warehouses has decreased from 85 to 28, with the goal of decreasing to five in the coming years. Several office locations have been reduced as part of broader moves to lower its cost base.
Accell said, “These changes create a strong foundation for the future, allowing Accell to enhance customer satisfaction through more efficient production and distribution, an increased focus on design and innovation and a stronger focus on quality. With a diverse and complementary portfolio of brands that meet the needs of a broad range of consumers, Accell remains committed to delivering exceptional service through its professional dealer network across Europe.”
Accell Group’s portfolio includes Haibike, Winora, Ghost, Batavus, Koga, Lapierre, Raleigh, Sparta, Babboe, and Carqon. Its P&A brand is XLC, a manufacturer of bike parts and accessories.
Image courtesy Accell Group/Haibike
