The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority has launched a criminal investigation into cargo bike manufacturer Babboe following allegations that critical information was withheld from the authorities. Several models of Babboe’s cargo bikes were found to be unsafe, prompting the regulator to take action.
Last month, Babboe had to halt sales of their cargo bikes temporarily after an investigation revealed that hundreds of frames had been broken in recent years. The company allegedly failed to properly investigate the causes of the defects and did not take adequate measures to address the issue. As a result, cargo bikes are no longer permitted to be sold in the country.
Former Babboe employees have reportedly admitted to hiding broken frames in vans before inspections by the NVWA. Photos and audio recordings obtained by RTL News support these claims. Concerned customers were allegedly turned away or deceived by the company.
The regulator has condemned the concealment of defective frames as “shocking” and “unacceptable”. Deliberately withholding information hinders the authorities’ ability to ensure the safety of products on the market. Parent company Accell has stated that they were unaware of any misconduct within Babboe.
