BOSCH eBIKE SYSTEMS ACQUIRES COBI

Bosch eBike Systems is planning on acquiring Frankfurt-based start-up COBI. COBI’s products allow connectivity to bikes and other peripheral devices. Says COBI CEO Andreas Gahlert, “With Bosch as a strategic partner, we see huge scope for worldwide growth in the area of digitally connected products and services in the bike environment. For us, this is undoubtedly a significant step into the future.”

COBI’s offerings center around their smartphone app, which can connect to bike, watch, bluetooth devices like heart rate monitors, as well as interact with Strava, Apple Health, Komoot, Spotify and other apps to make a more connected and immersive experience. This opens up quite a few possibilities for connectivity for Bosch, including using the smartphone as a display, as well as the possibility of tweaking power curves to individual rider taste.

The acquisition is pending clearance by antitrust authorities.