INTERVIEW
ecosystems. Apps are no longer a side feature; they have become a key interface between the rider and the bike. At Mahle, for example, platforms like My SmartBike reflect this shift: they help riders understand, personalise, and trust their eBike without adding complexity. Our product team is deeply convinced that the focus must be on purposeful, useful innovation, while ensuring strong competitiveness across our product lines. Ultimately, the most meaningful innovations are those that improve how the bike feels. The goal is for the eBike to feel intuitive, responsive, and natural, almost disappearing under the rider. When assistance blends seamlessly with human input and the bike feels like a bicycle first and an electric system second, that’s when technology truly adds value.
Looking back at the last 36 months, what innovations have impressed you in the eBike systems space? Over the past three years, what has impressed me most has not been a single breakthrough, but a clear evolution in how innovation is understood in the eBike systems space, strongly shaped by a numbers-driven battle initiated by new players, often leaving aside what is truly meaningful or useful for the end user. New players inevitably bring fresh ideas and perspectives that enrich the market and increase competitiveness, which is positive, though I don’t see many innovations that genuinely improve everyday use. The focus is gradually shifting from isolated components to holistic systems, where hardware, software, and user experience are deeply connected. We’ve seen significant advances in lightweight architectures, energy efficiency, and sensor technology, but also, equally important, in digital
42 | March 2026
Is technological innovation the best way to engage the general public? Technological innovation is essential, but it is not the starting point. To engage the general public, we must first listen carefully to users and observe real market behaviour, how people live, move, and make decisions. That said, listening does not mean lowering ambition. The industry must continue pushing boundaries in performance, efficiency, and system intelligence. Being “best in class” in numbers, whether weight, power density, or energy management, remains important because it underpins credibility and long-term relevance. The key is balance. Technology shouldn’t dominate the conversation, but it must quietly deliver excellence. When strong technical foundations are combined with a deep understanding of user needs, innovation becomes
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