Babboe 'misled' regulator about unsafe cargo bikes: 'Major risks taken'

The NVWA is launching a criminal investigation into Babboe. The cargo bike manufacturer allegedly deliberately concealed broken frames during inspections. “The company has taken major risks with people's safety,” the regulator said on X.

“If information or material is withheld during our inspection, we as a regulator cannot do our job properly. While we stand precisely for people's safety,” the NVWA explains. According to the regulator, Babboe undermined its supervision and thereby took “major risks with safety”.

According to reporting by RTL Nieuws the company deliberately hid broken frames during the inspection. This is said to be evident from photos, audio recordings, documents and conversations with former Babboe employees. Former employees reportedly told RTL Nieuws how they hid broken frames in vans before the inspection.

The NVWA therefore launched a criminal investigation into the manufacturer together with the Public Prosecution Service several weeks ago. That investigation will show whether the signals reported by RTL Nieuws are indeed correct.

The regulator notes that Babboe bikes can still be seen on the streets, which is “not the intention”. The watchdog has been “very clear about that: do not ride them”.

The cargo bike manufacturer had already come under fire earlier. After more than a hundred reports of broken frames, the NVWA had already called for a sales stop in February. Several Babboe models turned out to be unsafe. According to the regulator, Babboe failed to properly investigate the causes. The manufacturer also allegedly failed to take measures.

Babboe, owned by Accell which also makes Batavus bikes, recalled the City, City-E, Mini and Mini-E models a week later in February.

Source: Nu.nl