Rog Bikes to make a comeback?

Rog Bikes were once one of the biggest names in Slovenia and have just announced that they will be available, once more, on the domestic market. This news comes after the business was taken over by Gorenje Group, a move that surprised many. The return of this particular brand has been building for some time but nobody expected the home appliance manufacturer to lead the charge.

Rog Bikes has a long history after producing their first bike in 1953 in Ljubljana and were a huge name in the eighties; the decade that saw their highest ever level of production (350,000 per year). The company suffered after the fall of Yugoslavia but recovered somewhat under the name ‘Elan Bikes’. However, they never seemed to recover fully and the story ended with bankruptcy. Many attempts saw many names get used but none of them found success; something that could change with the new owners.

The Gorenje Group is a huge company in Slovenia so have that advantage moving into the bicycle market, something that other owners through the years did not have. The Group operates in 90 countries and has a total revenue figure well clear of the €1 billion mark. Gorenje is the main brand for the Group but they also have many other brands in the home appliance market; all these brands originated from their main manufacturing facility in Velenje.

‘Pony’ was once one of Rog’s most popular bikes and this will be the starting point for the new company; a remake is set to hit the stores next year to be later joined by e-bikes, mountain bikes, and more. ‘GOR Bicycles’ will be the startup company of Gorenje that will be in charge of everything regarding the Rog brand. Investments are also important for the business to be successful and this can be found in the shape of Slovenia’s biggest shopping centre owner, BTC City. This company is no stranger to the bicycle market having invested before but they will now look to make a presence in terms of ‘home-made’ bikes. Taking all these factors into account, it’s not hard to see why so many people are excited for the overdue return of Rog Bikes; many believe that this will be the break the company has needed for quite some time.

The mid-segment of the market is the target for the new company and they are to attempt to separate themselves from competitors by offering high-quality products and unique designs. Velenje will once again be the home to Rog Bikes as they attempt to restore their position at the top of the market; it will be a tough journey but all facts suggest that this could be the chance that many have been waiting for.

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