Bosch-powered electric bikes rarely get to share the same sentence as the word “low cost,” but Gazelle has a history of bringing quality Dutch-made mid-drive e-bikes to US customers at reasonable prices. The brands’ latest launches in the US keep that legacy alive, delivering new 2024 versions of the Gazelle Medio T9, Medio T9 City, and Ultimate C8.
These aren’t the same Gazelles we’ve seen in the US for the last few years, but rather newly designed updates that feature novel frames, updated looks, and a focus on serving a wider range of riders.
One major difference in the frame is the inclusion of a true step-through design, which is becoming more common among e-bike makers with several recently released models of purely step-through bikes, eschewing the once common strategy of building both step-over and step-through frames.
Proper frame geometries and welding techniques, which you’d better believe a 130-year-old Dutch bicycle company has mastered, have largely made that top tube obsolete for many frame styles. Case in point: the new Gazelle Medio T9 and Medio T9 City models.
“A re-engineered frame with improved stiffness and stability makes it easier to step on and off, especially in urban environments or for older riders,” explained the company.
The new T9s are some of the most affordable Bosch-powered mid-drive e-bikes available in the US, starting at US $2,299 for the T9 City and US $2,599 for the all-road T9.
Both models sport similar step-thru frames that come in four sizes, including a new XS size to fit shorter riders of 4’9″ to 5’2″ (145 to 157 cm). Both models can also reach 20 mph (32 km/h) on pedal assist, making them Class 1 e-bikes. The pair of bikes include 75mm-travel spring suspension forks from Suntour, dual-piston hydraulic disc brakes from Shimano, and come with commuter-focused standard components such as fenders, rear rack, LED lighting, and frame locks that secure the rear wheel to the bike.
The T9, which is designed for more all-road conditions than the urban-centric T9 City, gets an upgraded Shimano Alivio 9-speed drivetrain and a more powerful Bosch Active Line Plus motor with 50 Nm of torque, compared to the Bosch Active Line’s 40 Nm of torque on the T9 City. The more powerful motor is paired with a larger 545 Wh battery, upping the 400 Wh battery that comes with the T9 City.
For riders who want to go a bit more premium, the new Gazelle Ultimate C8 might be the better choice. The Ultimate C8 combines its step-thru frame with a Gates Carbon Drive belt-drive system and a Shimano Nexus 8 internally geared rear hub.
The bike features a mono-integrated suspension stem in the fork offering 40mm of travel, higher-end LED lighting, an MIK-compatible rear rack for mounting a wide range of accessories,
The drivetrain on the Class 1 Ultimate C8 consists of a Bosch Active Line Plus motor and a 500Wh Bosch battery.
Priced at US $3,999, the Ultimate C8’s higher end components and drivetrain price it a bit higher, yet without reaching the upper end of Gazelle’s more European-leaning flagship models with flagship prices.
“We’re thrilled to bring high-quality ebikes to the North American market at a price that makes them accessible to more riders,” said Mark Danhof, General Manager for Gazelle North America. “With our latest models, consumers don’t have to compromise on safety, reliability, or features. Our ebikes are designed to offer top-notch performance and convenience, ensuring every ride is enjoyable and worry-free.”
Electrek’s Take
Gazelle’s expansion into the US market and the updated designs that accompany it are great news for riders who want the more robust, premium European-style electric bikes common across the pond but don’t want to spend an entire paycheck or two to get there.
These updates help bring Gazelle’s best-selling e-bikes in the US to a more modern look (no one will miss the rack batteries!) while retaining what keeps them Dutch. Oh, and the new smaller frame size option is going to be quite welcome, as well. I visited Gazelle’s factory in Holland a couple of years ago and spent much of the time with a stiff neck from looking up at the friendly Gazelle staff towering above me. Let’s just say they’re built differently, and so a smaller frame size for shorter Americans couldn’t come soon enough.
While these aren’t going to be the flashiest models out there, they offer great production quality and the peace of mind that comes from having one of the oldest bicycle companies in existence standing behind these products.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.More.
Most Wall Street analysts covering Tesla’s stock (TSLA) badly misread the automaker’s delivery volumes this quarter. Some of them have started releasing notes to clients following Tesla’s production and delivery results.
Here’s what they have to say:
According to Tesla-compiled analyst consensus, the automaker was expected to report “377,592 deliveries” in the first quarter.
Truist Securities maintained its hold rating on Tesla’s stock, but it greatly lowered its price target from $373 to $280 a share. They insist that while their earnings expectations have crashed because they overestimated deliveries, investors should focus on Tesla’s self-driving effort, which they see as “much more important for the long-term value of the stock.”
Goldman Sachs lowered its price target from $320 to $275 a share. The firm expected 375,000 deliveries from Tesla in Q1 and therefore had to adjust its earnings expectations with almost 40,000 fewer deliveries.
Wedbush‘s Dan Ives, one of Tesla’s biggest cheerleaders, called the delivery results “disastrous”, but he reiterated his $550 price target on Tesla’s stock.
UBS has reiterated its $225 price target which it had lowered last month after adjusting its delivery expectations in Q1 to 367,000 – one of the more accurate predictions on Wall Street.
CFRA‘s analyst Garrett Nelson reduced his price target from $385 to $360 a share.
Electrek’s Take
I find it funny that most of them are maintaining or barely changing their expectations after they were so wrong about Tesla in Q1.
If you were so wrong in Q1, you should expect to be incorrect also for the rest of the year, and readjust accordingly.
But Cantor is invested in Tesla, and the firm is owned by Elon’s friend, who happens to now be the secretary of commerce. Truist still believes Elon’s self-driving lies, Goldman Sachs overestimated Tesla’s deliveries by the equivalent of $2 billion in revenues, and Dan Ives is Dan Ives.
Covering Tesla over the last 15 years has confirmed to me that most Wall Street analysts have no idea what they are doing – or at least not when it comes to companies like Tesla.
Do you know any who have been consistently good lately? I’d love suggestions in the comment section below.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.More.
The global market rout on Thursday, sparked by President Donald Trump’s announcement of widespread tariffs, had an outsized effect on fintech companies and credit card issuers that are closely tied to consumer spending and credit.
Affirm, which offers buy now, pay later purchasing options, plunged 19%, while stock trading app Robinhood slid 10% and payments company PayPal fell 8%. American Express and Capital One each tumbled 10%, and Discover was down more than 8%.
President Trump on Wednesday laid out the U.S. “reciprocal tariff” rates that more than 180 countries and territories, including European Union members, will face under his sweeping new trade policy. Trump said his plan will set a 10% baseline tariff across the board, but that number is much higher for some countries.
The announcement sent stocks reeling, wiping out nearly $2 trillion in value from the S&P 500, and pushing the tech-heavy Nasdaq down 6%, its worst day since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
The sell-off was especially notable for companies most exposed to consumer spending and global supply chains, including payment providers and lenders. Fintech companies that rely on transaction volume or installment-based lending could see both revenue and credit performance deteriorate.
“When you go down the spectrum, that’s when you have more cyclical risk, more exposure to tariffs,” said Sanjay Sakhrani, an analyst at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, citing PayPal and Affirm as businesses at risk. He said bigger companies in the space “are more defensive” and better positioned.
Dan Dolev, an analyst at Mizuho, said bank processors such as Fiserv are less exposed to tariff volatility.
“It’s considered a safe haven,” he said.
Affirm executives have previously said rising prices might increase demand for their products. Chief Financial Officer Rob O’Hare said higher prices could push more consumers toward buy now, pay later services.
“If tariffs result in higher prices for consumers, we’re there to help,” O’Hare said at a Stocktwits fireside chat last month. Affirm CEO Max Levchin has offered similar comments.
However, James Friedman, an analyst at SIG, told CNBC that delinquencies become a concern. He compared Affirm to private-label store cards, and pointed to historical trends in credit performance during downturns, noting that “private label delinquency rates run roughly double” in a recession when compared to traditional credit cards.
“You have to look at who’s overexposed to discretionary,” he said.
Affirm did not provide a comment but pointed to recent remarks from its executives.
Wait, Mazda sells a real EV? It’s only in China for now, but that will change very soon. The first Mazda 6e built for overseas markets rolled off the assembly line Thursday. Mazda’s new EV will arrive in Europe, Southeast Asia, and other overseas markets later this year. This could be the start of something with a new SUV due out next.
Mazda’s new EV rolls off assembly for overseas markets
The Mazda EZ-6 has been on sale in China since October with prices starting as low as 139,800 yuan, or slightly under $20,000.
Earlier this year, Mazda introduced the 6e, the global version of its electric car sold in China. The stylish electric sedan is made by Changan Mazda, Mazda’s joint venture in China.
After the first Mazda 6e model rolled off the production line at the company’s Nanjing Plant, Mazda said it’s ready to “conquer the new era of electrification with China Smart Manufacturing.”
Advertisement – scroll for more content
The new global “6e” model will be built at Changan Mazda’s plant and exported to overseas markets including Europe, Thailand, and other parts of Southeast Asia.
Mazda calls it “both a Chinese car and a global car,” with Changan’s advanced EV tech and Mazda’s signature design.
Mazda 6e electric sedan during European debut (Source: Changan Mazda)
Built on Changan’s hybrid platform, the EZ-6 is offered in China with both electric (EV) and extended-range (EREV) powertrains. The EV version has a CLTC driving range of up to 600 km (372 miles) and can fast charge (30% to 80%) in about 15 minutes.
Mazda’s new EV will be available with two battery options in Europe: 68.8 kWh or 80 kWh. The larger (80 kWh) battery gets up to 552 km (343 miles) WLTP range, while the 68.8 kWh version is rated with up to 479 km (300 miles) range on the WLTP rating scale.
At 4,921 mm long, 1,890 mm wide, and 1,491 mm tall, the Mazda 6e is about the size of a Tesla Model 3 (4,720 mm long, 1,922 mm wide, and 1,441 mm tall).
Mazda said the successful rollout of the 6e kicks off “the official launch of Changan Mazda’s new energy vehicle export center” for global markets.
The company will launch a new SUV next year and plans to introduce a third and fourth new energy vehicle (NEV).
Although prices will be announced closer to launch, Mazda’s global EV will not arrive with the same $20,000 price tag in Europe as it will face tariffs as an export from China. Mazda is expected to launch the 6e later this year in Europe and Southeast Asia. Check back soon for more info.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.More.