Decathlon and IoT Venture: Digital duty cycle protection for e-bikes

Decathlon, one of the world's leading sporting goods manufacturers and retailers, is entering into a strategic partnership with IoT Venture to offer its customers in Germany innovative digital theft protection for e-bikes from March 2025. This cooperation enables cyclists to equip their bikes with the GPS tracker IT'S MY BIKE. The system will not only offer reliable protection against theft, but also provide additional functions such as a digital accident assistant, detailed ride statistics and an automatic inspection reminder. The new service will be available immediately in all German Decathlon shops and via the decathlon.de online shop.

How the GPS tracker works

The GPS tracker IT'S MY BIKE enables real-time localisation of the bike in the event of theft. If a bike is stolen, IoT Venture's Bike Hunter team works closely with the police to help recover it. This combination of modern technology and professional support should significantly increase the chances of successfully recovering stolen bikes. With this offer, Decathlon is responding to the growing demand for effective security solutions in the field of e-mobility, particularly in view of the increasing popularity of high-quality e-bikes.

Additional functions and app integration

In addition to the primary theft protection function, the GPS tracker offers other useful features that can be accessed via an associated smartphone app. A digital accident assistant automatically notifies predefined private emergency contacts in the event of a fall. This could be an important safety benefit, especially for people travelling alone or in remote areas. The system also records detailed driving statistics such as distances travelled, average speeds and calculated CO2 emissions. An automatic inspection reminder is designed to help users keep their e-bike in optimum condition at all times.

Installation and operation

The GPS tracker can be easily installed at any Decathlon shop. Alternatively, it is possible to have the system integrated directly when purchasing a new e-bike or to have it retrofitted as part of a service or repair order. The tracker is controlled and monitored via a user-friendly app, which will be available for common smartphone operating systems. Decathlon emphasises that operation is designed to be intuitive in order to provide all user groups with easy access to the safety and comfort functions.

Partnership with leasing provider (news from 13 March 2025)

Decathlon, the global multisport brand, wants to set an example for sustainable mobility with a new cooperation in the area of company bike leasing. The sporting goods manufacturer and retailer has announced a strategic partnership with BusinessBike, one of the leading providers of company bike leasing in Germany. The collaboration gives customers the opportunity to lease Decathlon bicycles and e-bikes conveniently and cost-effectively via BusinessBike. With this step, Decathlon is expanding its offering in the area of soft mobility and positioning itself even more strongly in the growing market for bicycle leasing.

Expanded leasing portfolio for Decathlon

The partnership with BusinessBike represents an important building block in Decathlon's overall strategy. Michael Koslowski, Commercial Leader Bike Leasing Decathlon Germany, emphasises the importance of the cooperation: "Thanks to this promising collaboration, we now have the three most important bike leasing partners in Germany at our side and thus reach around three quarters of all German employees who can lease a company bike." Together with its partners, the company offers a comprehensive selection of bikes from Decathlon's own brands - from sporty mountain bikes to practical cargo bikes. Koslowski emphasises that in future this can be combined with particularly high service standards and strong insurance benefits.

Focus on sustainable mobility

According to the company, the cooperation between BusinessBike and Decathlon aims to strengthen company mobility and make a contribution to climate protection. Business bike leasing gives companies the opportunity to offer their employees attractive benefits and have a positive impact on the environment at the same time. The tax advantages of company bike leasing, the large selection of bikes and the simple processing via BusinessBike are intended to make the switch to bikes as a means of transport as attractive as possible.

Wide availability and easy access

The new service is now available to customers whose employers work with BusinessBike in all Decathlon shops across Germany and online at decathlon.de. This broad availability enables interested parties to test the desired bike or e-bike directly on site and receive advice before deciding on a leasing model. The combination of stationary retail and online presence offers maximum flexibility and customer-orientation, says the company. With the partnership with BusinessBike, Decathlon is expanding its network to include another important player in the field of soft mobility. The company is now working with the three largest service bike leasing providers in Germany.

Cooperation with Rebike (notification from 11.3.2025)

For Decathlon, this partnership represents a significant step in its mobility strategy. The company is pursuing the ambitious goal of further expanding its position in the growing bicycle market and establishing itself as a leading provider in the field of sustainable mobility. Just a few days ago, the French sporting goods group announced its collaboration with Rebike Mobility, Germany's largest provider of reconditioned e-bikes, announced. From March 2025, Rebike will operate its own sales areas in selected Decathlon shops. This new shop-in-shop concept will initially be launched at two locations: on 13 March, a Rebike space will open in Weiterstadt covering almost 630 square metres, followed by another shop in Cologne-Marsdorf with around 300 square metres on 27 March. A third opening in the Hamburg Decathlon City store with showroom character is planned for the end of March.

The new Rebike centres offer a wide range of reconditioned e-bikes from well-known manufacturers. Around 350 bikes will be for sale in Weiterstadt and around 230 models in Cologne-Marsdorf. Customers can test the bikes on site and get advice from Rebike experts. Rebike also offers a workshop service, which is available either directly in the Decathlon shops or in special nationwide service workshops.

Wide range of reconditioned e-bikes

The Rebike range in the shop-in-shop shops includes e-trekking bikes, e-city bikes and e-mountain bikes. The range is supplemented by organic bikes such as gravel and racing bikes as well as a selection of refurbished accessories. All e-bikes undergo an extensive refurbishment process at the Rebike centre in Kempten before being sold. In more than 100 work steps, mechanics ensure that the bikes are in perfect working order and in good condition.

Rebike claims that the refurbished e-bikes are up to 60 per cent cheaper than comparable new models. To increase customer confidence in the quality of the products, the company offers a two-year guarantee on the motor and battery.

Focus on omnichannel strategy and sustainability

The new retail cooperation is part of an omnichannel strategy for both companies. Customers can purchase the e-bikes both in Decathlon shops and online via the Rebike.com platform. Decathlon has also been selling refurbished e-bikes from Rebike via its own online marketplace since April 2024.

Thomas Bernik, CEO of Rebike, sees the partnership with Decathlon as an opportunity to significantly expand the company's market presence and reach new target groups. Maximilian Freiwald, Marketplace Retail Manager at Decathlon Germany, also emphasises the importance of sustainability and quality for both companies in this business cooperation. The cooperation is intended to help conserve resources and offer customers an attractive alternative to new models. Last autumn, Decathlon had already announced its Initiative for the repair of sports equipment presented.

Refurbishment process and quality assurance

Every e-bike offered in the shop-in-shop shops undergoes a complex reconditioning process at Rebike. At the Rebike headquarters in Kempten, the used bikes are checked, repaired and refurbished in more than 100 steps. Robin Diestelhorst, Director Retail at Rebike, explains that this process extends the life cycle of high-quality e-bikes and creates a sustainable alternative to buying new. Rebike accepts large quantities of used e-bikes from lessors and dealers. According to the company, over 20,000 e-bikes are refurbished every year in a refurbishment process certified by TÜV Rheinland.

Expansion and future plans

The retail cooperation with Decathlon represents an important step in Rebike's current growth strategy. In addition to the first two shop-in-shop shops in Weiterstadt and Cologne-Marsdorf, further locations are already being planned. Rebike sees the cooperation with Decathlon as an opportunity to promote its vision of circular mobility internationally.

In addition to the new spaces at Decathlon, Rebike also operates its own flagship stores in Munich and Frankfurt am Main. The company also sells its reconditioned e-bikes via various online platforms and a company bike leasing programme. With the expansion into Decathlon's store network, Rebike now wants to significantly expand its presence in stationary retail.