Criminal probe opened into alleged safety issue cover-up at Babboe

Investigation follows claims that cargo bike brand hid damaged frames from
officials during safety inspection visits

by SIMON_MACMICHAEL FRI, MAR 29, 2024 14:32

A criminal investigation has been launched in the Netherlands over
allegations that Babboe covered up safety issues relating to its cargo
bikes.

The probe is being run jointly by the investigative arm of the Netherlands
Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) and the country’s Public
Prosecution Service, reports NL Times (link is external).

The English-language news website says that following a report yesterday by
broadcaster RTL Nieuws, the NVWA, which last month ordered Babboe to
temporarily halt sales of its cargo bikes due to safety concerns, confirmed
that the investigation was launched several weeks ago.

Among the allegations levelled against the company, which is owned by
cycling industry giant Accell Group, which also owns brands including
Lapierre and Raliegh, are that employees hid damaged frames from NVWA
inspectors when they visited its premises.

A spokesperson for the NVWA is reported as claiming that Babboe “broke the
law” by not reporting problems that would cause frames to suddenly develop
cracks and break, adding that “there are indications that details were
withheld.”

The RTL Nieuws report that prompted confirmation of the investigation
included contributions from former staff members of Babboe, who revealed
how they would be told to hide broken frames ahead of inspection visits by
officials from the NVWA.

One, speaking about a visit in 2021, told the broadcaster: “The NVWA was
supposed to arrive at ten o’clock. So at a quarter to eight in the morning,
we went there to hide everything.

“We put the broken bicycles in a van [which was then driven to another
location], because they were afraid that the NVWA would take a walk around
the place.”

Another said: “We had to empty the entire workshop. We loaded those frames
into a van, and the scrap iron bin as well.”

The NVWA described the allegations that Babboe staff concealed damaged
frames from it as “really shocking and downright disgusting.”

NVWA spokesman Bjorn Elsebrock told RTL Nieuws: “If things are withheld, we
cannot do our work. That is undermining and awful.”

He added that the criminal investigation now under way “This must show
whether the whether the findings actually happened.”

Last month, reacting to the NVWA’s order to temporarily halt sales of
certain models, Babboe said in a statement that the watchdog had told it
“that the company has not provided enough information to prove that certain
models are free from safety risks.

[Inset] Cargo bike company Babboe stops sales and tells customers to
“immediately stop” riding their bikes due to faulty frames – after “lying”
about defects

“The sale of these models must for this reason be put on hold,” Babboe
continued. ”As a precaution, Babboe has decided to temporarily stop the
sales of all Babboe cargo bikes.

“Babboe and the NVWA continue to work together to ensure that the requested
information is provided as quickly as possible, so that sales can be
resumed. Until then, we will follow the NVWA’s advice to not use the Babboe
cargo bikes.

“We are currently consulting with the NVWA to prepare for a recall of
certain Babboe models. We will inform Babboe owners of this as soon as
possible,” the company added.

<https://road.cc/content/news/criminal-probe-alleged-safety-issue-cover-babboe-307571>

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