In a big step for sustainable mobility, Finland’s Vapaus Group has joined forces with France’s top corporate cycling provider, Azfalte. This merger isn’t just a business transaction, it’s part of a growing European push to improve employee health, reduce carbon emissions, and support economic growth.Their ambitious, shared goal is to put over one million employees on bikes in the coming years.
But why does this merger matter, and why is France the new frontier? The blueprint comes from Germany’s proven success, combined with Europe’s growing urgency to decarbonize transport.
The German Blueprint:
To understand the ambition behind Vapaus and Azfalte, one must look to Germany. As detailed in a recent white paper from the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF) and JobRad Group, Germany’s Company Bike Leasing (CBL) model is a staggering success. By the end of 2024:
- +2.1 million company bikes were on the road.
- 289,000 employers participated in the scheme.
- The market generated a massive €3.1 billion in provider turnover.
- It contributes to an estimated 491,000 jobs in the bicycle sector and its value chain.