According to the NVWA, Babboe failed to adequately investigate the causes of these defects and the company failed to take the necessary measures to prevent further incidents.
RTL Nieuws recently published a study about the structural problems with the frames of Babboe cargo bikes, which led to fractures during use. Employees of Babboe and former employees, as well as customers, have expressed concerns about the safety of these modes of transportation. Despite previous recalls and adjustments to the cargo bikes, the frames continue to break and tear, sometimes even resulting in accidents.
Engineers and product safety experts have criticized the construction and recommend regular inspection of the frame and reporting any problems to the NVWA. Babboe has assisted customers with problems in some cases, but critics say this has not been sufficient to address safety concerns. However, the manufacturer emphasizes that the number of reported problems with the Curve model is extremely low and that these have been resolved satisfactorily.
NVWA
The recent developments surrounding Babboe cargo bikes have led to an intervention by the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA). The authority has decided that Babboe must stop with the sale of its cargo bikes due to serious safety risks that have come to light. This decision follows hundreds of reports of broken frames during use, indicating a potential danger to both adults and children using these bikes.
The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) has obliged cargo bike manufacturer Babboe to immediately cease trading in all its cargo bikes. The company must also recall cargo bikes with a serious safety risk. The NVWA reminds the company of its legal obligation after extensive research into frame fractures.
According to the NVWA, Babboe failed to adequately investigate the causes of these defects and the company failed to take the necessary measures to prevent further incidents. This failure is seen as a violation of the law, as Babboe should have reported the defects to the regulator itself. The sales stop will remain in effect until Babboe can demonstrate that the cargo bikes are safe for use again.
In August 2019, bicycle manufacturer Babboe acknowledged that the frame of the two-wheel cargo bike 'City', produced from 2010 to 2012, has a manufacturing defect. Models from 2017 to June 2018 may also 'in some cases have a welding defect', the manufacturer stated.
The NVWA started the investigation at the end of 2023 following a signal about several frame fractures of the Babboe cargo bikes. The NVWA research shows that Babboe has received a large number of reports of broken frames in recent years. Babboe did not follow up on these reports as required by law. For example, no investigation was carried out into the causes and no report was made to the NVWA.
The NVWA has instructed Babboe to immediately cease trading in all cargo bikes because they do not comply with the law. The safety of the cargo bikes is not sufficiently guaranteed. The cargo bikes may be sold again when it has been sufficiently demonstrated that they are safe, including by means of complete technical documentation.
Babboe
The company responded to the criticisms and measures imposed by the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA). Through a statement on their website, the company has nuanced concerns surrounding the safety of some models of their cargo bikes. Babboe states that the NVWA has indicated that the company has not provided sufficient information to demonstrate that certain models do not pose a safety risk. In response to this, Babboe has decided to temporarily discontinue the sale of all Babboe cargo bikes as a precaution.
This decision underlines Babboe's serious approach to security concerns. The company emphasizes that it remains in close consultation with the NVWA to provide the necessary information required to demonstrate that the cargo bikes are safe for use. This process includes preparations for a possible recall of specific models, with user safety as a priority. These measures are crucial to ensure consumer safety and maintain confidence in products such as cargo bikes, which are an essential part of the daily lives of many families.
