Porsche Shuts Down Fazua & Its E-Bike Division, Specialized Drops Turbo Levo Prices, CPSC Issues Two Helmet Recalls | TWR Ep 83

Porsche has shut down three subsidiary companies, including Porsche eBike Performance and the Fazua e-bike motor brand. In April, Porsche sold its 45% stake in the Bugatti Rimac car group to HOF Capital, a New York-based venture capital firm, and the closures followed from there.

The company’s executive board chairman, Dr. Michael Leiters, said: “We must refocus on our core business. This is the indispensable foundation for a successful strategic realignment. This forces us to make painful cuts, including our subsidiaries.”

Porsche cited “fundamentally changed market conditions for e-bike drive systems” as the reason for the shutdown, despite having announced plans in 2025 to build a battery factory in Croatia. That factory was originally set to open this year.

The context here matters. E-bike sales across Europe have been declining. According to Bike EU, sales dropped roughly 5% from 4.2 million to 4 million units in 2023 across major markets including Germany, France, the UK, and Spain.

BikeRadar reports that 2024 brought further declines: down 9.7% in the UK, 15.8% in France, and 19.1% in Spain. Many manufacturers have also shifted to newer motors, like the Avinox mid-drive, which can produce up to 1,500W of peak power and 150 Nm of torque.

A Porsche spokesperson said Fazua customers and dealers “will continue to have long-term access to spare parts and service,” with further details to follow.

Our Take:
Based on recent events, we can’t say this was a huge surprise. Despite the popularity of Fazua motors, Porsche was never a core player in the e-bike space. Recent competition from the likes of Amflow, plus a softening European market, gave them little reason to stay.

The real question for affected riders is how long “long-term” actually means when it comes to parts and service support. As we’ve seen from some other brands that closed or pulled out of specific markets, promises aren’t always guaranteed. We’ll keep you posted on further developments!

In the first week of May, Specialized notified its US and Canadian dealers that it was permanently reducing prices on all current Turbo Levo models. Retail price cuts range from 6% to 27%, with the biggest reductions at the top end. The Turbo Levo R S-Works dropped 26.5%, from $15,650 down to $11,500. Wholesale prices were reduced 3% to 27% as well.

Specialized’s North American Commercial Leader, Matt Kephart, attributed the change to operational improvements, saying: “Operational improvements on the Levo platform reduced cost structures specific to this product line, and the competitive moment in e-MTB made now the right time to act. The result is a permanent pricing reset that brings more riders into the category and into your store, while supporting sustainable margins and stronger sell-through.”

Riders who registered a Turbo Levo between January 1st and May 7th of this year will receive a Founder’s Credit via email. That credit covers 50% of the price difference between what they paid and the new price, and it can be used on Specialized’s website on any product eligible for direct-to-home delivery.

The Founders Credit becomes 100% of the price difference when applied toward a new Turbo Levo S-Works, Pro, or Expert model. Any credits given out expire June 30th.

For dealers, Specialized rolled out IBR Inventory Credits that automatically adjust inventory costs to match the new pricing for in-stock bikes purchased between February 1st and May 7th.

Our Take:
Kephart’s statement is diplomatic, but the script puts it plainly: this is at least partly a response to competition from newer brands like Amflow, which offer more power at lower prices. Specialized makes great e-bikes—as evidenced by the number of Turbo Levos we see on a daily basis here in SW Utah—and lowering prices to stay competitive is the right move.

Two separate recalls were issued this week covering helmets sold on Amazon and Temu. Neither batch meets mandatory safety standards, and both can fail to protect riders in a crash.

The first recall covers approximately 2,200 Favoto H-1 helmets sold on Amazon. The helmet has a black body with red stripes, black padding, black straps with a silver reflective pattern, and a black and red buckle. “FAVOTO” appears in white letters on the side.

These were sold exclusively in youth size Large and don’t comply with labeling, certification, or positional stability requirements. They were priced between $20 and $27. Owners should destroy the helmet by cutting the straps, photograph it, and email the photos to [email protected] for a full refund.

The second recall covers around 740 Foubeaka and Geniuss multi-purpose helmets sold on Temu. These came in black or white with black padding, straps, a buckle, and an adjustable fit knob at the back. They were sold exclusively in size Small, priced between $9 and $11, and similarly fail positional stability and certification requirements.

To get a refund for these helmets, owners should follow the same destroy-and-photograph process and email [email protected].

Our Take:
Cheap helmets keep showing up in these recalls, and the pattern is consistent. If you’re shopping for a helmet, we recommend that you spend more than $10-20. A helmet that doesn’t meet safety standards isn’t protecting anyone!

In celebration of May Bicycle Month, PeopleForBikes and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation are offering their e-bike safety course at no cost through the end of the month.

The course normally costs $35.99 and covers e-bike basics, rules of the road, and practice drills. It’s designed for teens and riders who haven’t gone through a driver’s education course, though anyone can take it. The course takes about 90 minutes to complete, but it doesn’t have to be done in one sitting.

Christy LaCurelle, President and CEO of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, said: “This course is designed to help riders better understand their eBikes and make informed decisions on the road. When more people have access to quality safety education, entire communities benefit.”

Riders who complete the course receive a certificate of completion, which can be used to prove competency to schools or local governments if required. They also get 30% off helmets from Troy Lee Designs. Anyone interested can sign up at eBikecourse.com/MBM.

Our Take:
We’ve always preferred education over legislation as the path to safer riding, so this is exactly the kind of initiative we get behind. It’s free, it’s practical, and there’s no reason not to take advantage of it while it lasts. If you know a newer rider, send them the link!

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