Dutch cargo bike firm Babboe has extended its recall to cover around 22,000 cargo bikes, which is about a third of its bikes, following safety concerns.
The company recently launched a recall of its City, City E, Mini and Mini E models, saying the safety of the bikes “cannot be guaranteed”. Up to 10,000 bikes were subject to the recall, which began in the Netherlands on February 27 in coordination with the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA).
It has now also been decided to recall and replace the City Mountain (production before 2020), Slim Mountain, Transporter and the Pro Trike (E), Trike-E and Pro Trike XL Motor.
Owners of the Raleigh Pro and Raleigh Pro Trike - which share a Babboe platform - are also advised to stop riding them and to register their frame numbers so as to be informed of next steps.
"In total, in all countries where Babboe is sold, approximately 22,000 cargo bikes are being recalled and replaced,” the company said.
The first cargo bikes will be collected in the Netherlands and Germany in mid-April, after which the recall campaign will be rolled out in the other countries. All owners of these models will be offered a new cargo bike, the company added.
It said the models City Mountain (production from January 2020), Max-E, Carve-E, Carve Mountain Curve-E, Curve Mountain, Big (E), Dog (E), Go (E), Go Mountain, Flow E, Flow Mountain, Pro Bike (E), Pro Bike Midmotor, Mini Mountain and Curve may be used again after an inspection/repair.
Customers can check whether a safety warning has been issued for their bike here.
Director Gerard Feenema said the majority of customers will be able to get back on the road after an inspection/repair.
“We understand that this is annoying for our customers, and have therefore done our best to find a suitable solution and compensate them. Our goal is to get everyone back on the road safely.”
> Dutch e-cargo bike firm Babboe accused of cover-up over ‘serious safety risk’
A criminal investigation has also been launched in the Netherlands over allegations Babboe covered up safety issues relating to its cargo bikes. Among these are that employees hid damaged frames from NVWA inspectors when they visited its premises.
A spokesperson for the NVWA is reported as claiming that Babboe “broke the law” by not reporting problems that would cause frames to suddenly develop cracks and break, adding that “there are indications that details were withheld.”
