Trump’s massive tariffs – and sudden backtrack – bring chaos to e-bike prices
The e-bike market in the US, and the broader micromobility industry consisting of e-bikes, e-scooters, and other ridables, is feeling the rollercoaster effects of the Trump administration’s recent move to impose sweeping new tariffs on global imports, only to swiftly reverse course just days later.
The abrupt policy changes have sent shockwaves through the micromobility industry, leaving companies scrambling to adjust and consumers uncertain about future pricing.
Tariffs are nothing new for the e-bike industry. Back in 2018, the first Trump administration announced hefty tariffs of up to 25% on a wide array of products imported from China, including e-bikes and electric scooters. The rationale cited involved protecting American manufacturing and pressuring China to address trade imbalances. While the tariffs targeted broader categories, the electric bicycle industry – already heavily reliant on Chinese manufacturing – stood poised to bear significant financial strain.
Years of tariff exclusions and then a snapping back of tariffs led the e-bike industry to develop a strong stomach while prompting a shift from Chinese manufacturing to other lower-tariffed Asian countries such as Vietnam and Cambodia. But nothing could prepare the industry—or consumers—for what would come in the form of steep new tariffs from the second Trump Administration.
February of this year saw 20% tariffs added to Chinese imports on top of the existing 25% tariffs already in place on electric bicycles. Then April’s “Liberation Day” tariffs stacked another 34% tariffs on top of those, which quickly ballooned into 84% tariffs on Chinese imports. Financial markets in the US and around the world tumbled.
At the same time as China stood up to what it referred to as Trump’s “unilateral bullying” with its own reciprocal tariffs, and as Trump’s advisors eyed a quickly developing US bond crisis, the president ultimately backed down and announced a 90-day pause on tariffs above 10% – except for China, whose new tariff rate he raised to 125%. When factoring in the original 25% tariffs on e-bikes from Section 301, that puts a 150% tariff rate on e-bikes and e-scooters imported to the US from the world’s largest maker of e-bikes and e-scooters. In other words, an e-bike that costs a company $500 to produce in China now costs them $1,250 to bring across the border into the US – and that’s before any other costs such as ocean freight or the operating expenses of running a business in the US.
Almost immediately, panic has rippled through the industry. Companies faced with these steep new import duties have to contemplate rapid price increases, shifting manufacturing bases, or absorbing massive cost hikes themselves. Electric bicycles and scooters, already growing in popularity as affordable alternatives to cars and public transit, risk becoming less accessible to the average consumer. For example, a notice on Velotric’s website, posted several days ago when the tariff rates on Chinese e-bikes were half what they are today, explained that “Due to the implementation of new Tariffs, pricing on select models may increase starting April 15th, 2025. This decision is necessary to ensure that we can continue to provide the high-quality e-bikes you love, while meeting the new tariffs.”
With electric bikes imported from China now costing companies over twice what they did a week ago, huge uncertainty hangs over the market. In the past, we’ve seen some companies raise prices when tariffs have floated their costs, while others have absorbed up to 25% tariff increases, shaving their margins to keep prices affordable for consumers. But no e-bike company can afford to absorb a sudden doubling of their costs.
Several e-bike companies have spent the last few years preparing to move their manufacturing out of China. Lectric Ebikes, for example, has almost entirely relocated its manufacturing, moving to other Asian countries with lower US tariff rates. The company’s CEO, Levi Conlow, explained at the Micromobility America 2024 conference last November that the move was part of a longer strategy to seek out manufacturing in countries that had traditionally been spared the wrath of Trump’s smaller trade wars.
In a twist of irony though, Vietnam, one of the key alternatives for e-bike manufacturing, was hit with even higher tariff rates than China when the “Liberation Day” tariffs were announced on April 2, at least until the Trump Administration ratcheted up China’s tariff rate to a figure even higher than Vietnam’s.
Experts argue that such unpredictable tariff policies are harmful in an industry that thrives on consistency and predictable costs. E-bike development cycles often take a year or more, and pricing strategies are key considerations when developing new models that require months to design, produce, and ship to the US. Import-dependent companies, which constitute almost the entirety of the U.S. micromobility sector, seek clarity to confidently grow their operations and meet consumer demand for e-bikes. Meanwhile, domestic manufacturing alternatives, though slowly gaining momentum, remain a drop in the bucket compared to imports.
US-based manufacturers like Electric Bicycle Company, which assembles its e-bikes in California, aren’t able to support the vast demand for e-bikes across the entire US. Even those few US-based e-bike builders still import nearly all of their components from overseas, with China remaining the key supplier of e-bike components. From bicycle frames to motors and batteries, the minimal number of e-bikes built in the US use almost exclusively foreign-made components, as the US lacks the manufacturing capabilities to produce these components at any reasonable scale to replace the massive production volume available from China.
While the broader markets breathe a tentative sigh of relief after the majority of tariffs were quickly withdrawn from all countries except China, the damage of uncertainty remains, not to mention the extreme price increases that are all but inevitable on Chinese-produced electric bikes that dominate the market. Advocates and business leaders continue to urge policymakers to prioritize consistent and clear trade policies. In the fast-growing world of electric bikes and scooters, stability is critical to sustaining the momentum of eco-friendly and accessible transportation.
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Porsche is rolling out three new Taycan Black Edition models. The 2026 Porsche Taycan Black Edition brings more than just a sporty new look. All three are equipped with Porsche’s Performance Battery Plus, delivering more power and a longer driving range.
Meet the 2026 Porsche Taycan Black Edition
With the new electric Macan stealing the show, Porsche is introducing new Taycan variants for the 2026 model year.
Porsche has already introduced significant upgrades for the 2025 model year, adding more driving range, faster charging, higher performance, and a sleek new design.
The new Black Edition variants will be available for the 2026 Porsche Taycan, Taycan 4, and Taycan 4S models.
Featuring its SportDesign package, the new models include high-gloss black exterior accents on the window trims and mirrors.
Other standard design elements include a rear light strip with an illuminated, blacked-out Porsche logo. Inside, the new variants include Porsche’s black interior accent package, storage package, and black brushed illuminated door sill guards.
All three Black Edition models are equipped with the larger Performance Battery Plus, which is typically offered as an option.
With a gross energy capacity of 105 kWh, Porsche says the new variants offer a longer driving range and more power. The 2025 Taycan, with the Performance Battery Plus pack, offers an EPA-estimated range of 318 miles.
On the European WLTP scale, the 2025 Porsche Taycan with the Performance Plus battery is rated with up to 679 km (421 miles) range.
The new Black Edition models are loaded with added features. Highlights include Lane Change Assist, Surround View, including Active Parking Assist, 21″ wheels with center caps featuring the full-color Porsche crest, and HD-Matrix Design LED headlights. There are even puddle light projectors that show the Porsche logo when the doors open.
On the inside, the premium features continue. The Black Edition interior features 14-way comfort seats with a memory function, a Porsche crest on the headrests, and a BOSE Surround Sound System, including Dolby Atmos, to create an immersive sound experience.
You’ll also get Porsche Electric Sport Sound, a Storage package, and the Porsche crest stitched into the leather trim. To top it off, there’s an added “Black Edition” badge in the center console, exclusive to the new variants.
Although it’s called the Black Edition, you can choose from several different colors, such as Jet Black Metallic, Volcano Grey Metallic, Dolomite Silver Metallic, and Ice Grey Metallic, at no extra cost.
Porsche will reveal prices for the 2026 Taycan Black Edition models “in due course.” Deliveries in the US are expected to begin in Fall 2025.
What do you think of the new blacked-out Taycan variants? Do you dig it? Drop us a comment below and let us know your thoughts.
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Aventon is giving its popular fat tire e-bike a serious upgrade. The company just unveiled the Aventure M, a new mid-drive version of its best-selling Aventure model. With more torque, smarter shifting, and a boost in connectivity and control, Aventon says this is the “most advanced” bike it has ever produced.
The new Aventure M swaps out the rear hub motor for a 100 Nm mid-drive motor, offering more efficient power delivery and a more natural ride feel thanks to its double-sided torque sensor. And in case that 100 Nm doesn’t exactly place it for you, just know that we’re talking about more power (or more accurately, torque) than nearly any other e-bike in this class.
The Aventon A100 motor, which is rated at 750W and runs on a 36V system, takes full advantage of its Class 3 category with pedal assist speeds up to 28 mph (45 km/h) and a throttle top speed of 20 mph (32 km/h). The throttle is sold separately, probably as a nod to being even more compliant with California’s new stricter laws regarding Class 1 and Class 3 e-bikes, which can’t have mounted throttles.
Aventon also gives riders the option to set the bike to Class 1 or 2 limits using the companion app. We’ve always been pretty impressed with Aventon’s app, as it’s quite easy to use and makes it simple to control those types of modifications to the bike.
That app pairs with Aventon’s newly developed ACU (Aventon Control Unit), a custom IoT system that adds a wide range of smart features. Riders get GPS tracking, theft detection, geofencing, remote locking, and over-the-air (OTA) firmware updates. Aventon even built in a passcode-locked on-switch for added security, as well as a physical rear-wheel lock and alarm.
We’ve previously seen Aventon use that OTA update system to give its e-bike more power via a boost feature, so the company doesn’t appear shy about pushing out new features when they’re ready.
But it’s not just about motor placement and connectivity. The Aventure M introduces electronic shifting, powered by a 10-speed Shimano CUES drivetrain and paddle shifters. Riders can shift manually or let the system take over with Auto Shift, Aventon’s torque and cadence-sensing automatic shifting mode. A new Uphill Start Assist feature gives riders an extra torque boost when starting from a stop on steep grades –perfect for off-road adventures or fully loaded cargo rides.
As for range, Aventon claims up to 85 miles (137 km) from the removable 36V 20Ah (720 Wh) battery, which itself weighs around 8.7 lbs (3.9 kg). That figure is in the lowest power level, and real-world range will depend heavily on terrain and assist level, but riders can likely expect something in the 40–60 mile (65-100 km) ballpark under typical pedaling usage when enjoying moderately higher power levels, and a bit less if leaning hard into that optional throttle.
Rounding out the build are 4-inch wide fat tires, a suspension seatpost, and an 80 mm front suspension fork. The total weight of the bike is around 73 lbs (33 kg), which is actually surprisingly reasonable for a full-featured fat tire e-bike with a mid-drive, believe it or not. Hey, these are heavy bikes when you stuff all that power, range, and tech in there.
The price at launch is US $2,899, which places the Aventure M above the hub motor version of the company’s existing Aventure model but below some other mid-drive fat tire options on the market. Aventon is clearly positioning this as a higher-performance alternative that’s still (hopefully) accessible to the average rider. It’s available now online and through Aventon’s network of over 1,800 partner dealers across the U.S.
Electrek’s Take
It’s about time we saw a major direct-to-consumer brand bring a smart tech, mid-drive fat tire e-bike to market that doesn’t require taking out a second mortgage. The Aventure M feels like a natural progression for Aventon – taking what made the Aventure 2 so popular and layering on meaningful performance and tech upgrades. The mid-drive motor brings real climbing power and smoother pedal assist, and features like auto shifting and built-in GPS tracking give this bike some serious smart credentials.
Of course, at nearly $3,000, this isn’t exactly budget territory anymore. But considering the Aventure M includes high-end components, a full-fat-tire adventure build, and an impressive level of integration, it still looks like a solid value for someone who wants their e-bike to go above and beyond the basic level of componentry and features. If the real-world range holds up and the automatic shifting works smoothly, this could easily become a category leader for anyone wanting an all-terrain e-bike that feels as refined as it is rugged. Aventon of course didn’t reinvent the wheel here — they just made a smarter, better one. I look forward to getting on one soon for a review and letting you know what I think of the ride.
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