Because of the open questions surrounding serious safety defects, Babboe now also wants to recall cargo bikes in Germany – initially only four models, however. Further details are also unclear.
The halt in the sale of Babboe cargo bikes due to a series of frame breakages has left owners of the family bike seriously unsettled. After a long period of radio silence, Babboe has now given its German customers an update: The Dutch manufacturer is also preparing a recall campaign in Germany. Babboe announced this on his homepage on Tuesday.
The recall will initially affect four models:
- Babboe City
- Babboe City-E,
- Babboe Mini
- Babboe Mini E
Babboe promises a replacement wheel plus compensation
Babboe promises affected customers the following: “As part of the recall, affected people will be offered a replacement cargo bike or another suitable alternative, as well as compensation for any inconvenience caused.” The details of the recall are currently being worked out. Babboe will inform affected customers as quickly as possible about the exact schedule and concrete next steps.
In order to determine whether their own bike is affected by the recall, owners should enter their frame number on the website “steuerieredeinenpreise.de” set up by Babboe. However, the recall could still expand. The Dutch authorities had objected to far more than just the four models that Babboe had now recalled.
Recall could be expanded
Babboe also refers to this. The manufacturer is consulting with the authorities about “possible measures for the other cargo bike models in order to create more clarity here soon.” These other models are:
- Babboe Curve / Curve-E / Curve Mountain
- Babboe Big / Big E
- Babboe Dog / Dog-E
- Babboe Max E
- Babboe Mini Mountain
- Babboe Pro Trike / Trike-E
- Babboe Pro Trike XL
- Babboe Carve-E / Carve Mountain
- Babboe Slim Mountain
- Babboe Go-E, Go Mountain
- Babboe Flow-E, Flow Mountain
- Babboe City Mountain
The recommendation not to use these models also applies until further notice, writes Babboe.
The Babboe case was triggered in mid-February by a communication from the Dutch consumer protection authority. This reported a series of unexplained frame breaks in Babboe bikes, which posed a serious safety risk. As a result, a sales stop was imposed on all Babboe bikes, including in Germany. According to the manufacturer, owners of the models in question should no longer use the bikes for the time being. The General German Bicycle Club (ADFC) also makes this recommendation.
This puts Babboe owners in a difficult position. Experts have so far classified the chances of getting money back for a Babboe bike that hasn’t broken yet as low (read more about this here). What exactly German Babboe customers can expect is still unclear. In the Netherlands, where a recall has already begun, Babboe manufacturer Accell is compensating its customers with vouchers for a new bike.
Source: Stern
