PeopleForBikes, the U.S. bicycle industry's trade association and national advocacy organization, organized and led a three-day study tour across North Carolina and South Carolina, convening a cohort of industry leaders, policy makers and partners to explore
opportunities to diversify and strengthen domestic bicycle manufacturing, assembly and supply chains.
The tour highlighted how the Carolinas' unique combination of advanced manufacturing, logistics infrastructure, and thriving cycling culture positions the region as a promising hub for U.S. bicycle production.
"From automotive success stories to world-class ports and research institutions, the Carolinas showcase how regional ecosystems can drive the future of U.S. bicycle manufacturing," said Jenn Dice, president and CEO of PeopleForBikes. "Pairing this kind of leadership and infrastructure with federal policy solutions gives our industry real momentum to grow production here at home."
Highlights from the Tour
● Cane Creek Cycling (Fletcher, NC): Celebrating 50 years of innovation, Cane Creek offered a behind-the-scenes look at localized production. During the visit, Brian Tedesco of Blaupunkt Americas announced plans to relocate their e-bike manufacturing facility from South America to Western North Carolina, a move expected to create 60–80 local jobs and produce up to 250,000 e-bikes annually.
● OneSpartanburg + TIME Bicycles: Leaders emphasized how the region's automotive legacy and new automation strategies can be applied to cycling. Tony Karklins of TIME Bicycles underscored the importance of integrating advanced manufacturing with practical supply chain strategies.
● Global Lessons from Portugal: Philippe Vaxelaire, CEO of Unibike Portugal, shared insights from Europe's "Bike Valley," illustrating how U.S. regions can replicate global best practices in scaling production.
● Logistics Infrastructure: Tours of the Greer Inland Port and Greenville–Spartanburg International Airport showcased how ports, airports, and logistics providers form the backbone of a resilient and cost-efficient supply chain.
● BMW Spartanburg Plant: As BMW invests $1.7 billion in electric vehicle production in the Carolinas, the visit underscored the scale of advanced manufacturing and its relevance to the cycling industry.
The tour follows the introduction of the bipartisan U.S. Bicycle Production and Assembly Act, legislation that would eliminate tariffs on imported bicycle components used in domestic assembly. PeopleForBikes applauds the bill as a powerful tool to accelerate U.S. bicycle manufacturing and reinforce investments, such as those seen across the Carolinas.
“This is about more than building bikes,” added Dice. “It’s about creating jobs, strengthening supply chains, and positioning the U.S. as a global leader in sustainable manufacturing and innovation.”
About PeopleForBikes
PeopleForBikes is a national bicycle advocacy nonprofit and the U.S. bicycle industry’s trade association representing more than 340 bicycle industry supplier members and nearly 1.4 million individual supporters. Through our three areas of influence — infrastructure, policy, and participation — we accelerate the construction of safe, fun, and connected places to bike, advance pro-bike and pro-bike-business legislation; and reduce barriers to welcome more people to the joys of riding a bike. Our goal: become the best place in the world to ride a bike. Join us at peopleforbikes.org and donate to support our work.
