Cannondale Takes “The Good Fight” to Taiwan
The parent company of Cannondale Bicycle Corporation has announced that it will move all remaining cycle frame production to Taiwan and reduce employment at the Bedford, PA factory from 300 to 100 workers by the end of 2010. No more American-made Cannondale bikes.
Dorel Industries, headquartered in Montreal, entered the bicycle business in 2004 with its acquisition of Pacific Cycle. After acquiring Cannondale in February 2008, Dorel separated its bicycle business into two divisions, with Pacific Cycle focusing on mass market retailers (e.g., Kmart, WalMart, and ToysRUs) and Cannondale Sports Group focusing on the more up-scale cycling market (sales through independent bicycle shops). The company hoped to capitalize on Cannondale’s legacy of handcrafted bicycles and competitive cycling. Cannondale Sports Group, now renamed Cycling Sports Group, is composed of 4 cycling brands: Cannondale, Schwinn, GT, and Mongoose.
Dorel Industries is better known to many consumers as the parent company of baby product brands, including COSCO, Safety 1st, and Mother’s Choice. The company’s website proclaims this rather odd combination of interests, with a slogan “Dorel: A World Class Juvenile Products and Bicycle Company.” Welcome to the strange world of multinational conglomerate corporations.
I guess I had better speed up my plans to buy an American-made Cannondale bike!
Stephanie, Webmaster
StillMadeinUSA.com
posted by Stephanie @ 8:34 PM
10 Comments:
Stephanie, how can you report such news without gtting terribly depressed? I read only a few posts, and I'm saddened by what you have written. Oh, how I wish Americans would wake up! I have been on a quest for American Made steak knives, and only after stumbling upon your website did I find anything I could feel good about purchasing. Thanks for your updates, and I would have voted for YOU for President!
It is depressing to hear about companies taking their manufacturing offshore. I wish there was a way for companies to keep their jobs here and still stay competitive.
Hi, I found your made in America web site and then you blog. Both are great! Good work. Thank's, Matt.
Salut Stéphanie !
If you want an american made bike, buy a Treck. Few are made in usa !
Bon été !
J-F Houle
Québec city
Hi Stephanie,
Kudos to you on your wonderful mission! I think that more and more people are realizing the importance that Made in the USA logo has to our economy and our sense of pride and patriotism.
My husband and I own a studio in Texas where we have been handcrafting custom furniture for over 20 years. I have written a few blog posts that explain how imports affect the cost of furniture in the USA that you may enjoy at http://shakastudios.blogspot.com/search/label/Buy%20American
PS - Our custom furniture website offers an affiliate program: http://www.pegrack.com/affiliates.php
I am Canadian and I love to buy North American made goods. I bought a Cannondale Bad Boy Ultra last year and it was made in Bedford. Later on in the season I heard that CDale was going to move out to Taiwan and I was totally choked. But apparently they are only moving their lower-end productions to Asia and if you buy a high end CDale it will still be Made in the USA. Check it out on their website.
On another note, unfortunately I don't believe that Trek still makes their bikes in America. Making bikes under 1500 dollars is a very competitive market and most all (and CDale too apparently) have had to outsource their frames to Asia. They usually keep their USA Made products for the really high end bikes.
It's still looking that if you want to spend under 1500 for a bike you can still get a cannondale made in the USA. Their entry-level Bad Boy is still made in Bedford.
While out on a ride the other day, another cyclist saw me and my 2004 Team Saeco Cannondale. He through me some "kudos" and said I would be the owner of an extinct piece no longer to be Made In USA. I made it home, did an internet search and discovered the sad reality. Made In USA use to mean something. Now, it appears to be a dying a slow death. Well, I always wanted to start my own bicycle business. It would be very small but it would PROUDLY display MADE IN USA on every bicycle! Time to get to work.
Thank you for the article and motivation, Stephanie.
I just bought one of the last made in the USA Canondale road bike frames. I also have frames from Gary Fisher and Burley before they gave up making bike frames here. I let them know my opinion on their manufacturing choices. I also let them know I would not buy any offshore crap from them. I saw some of the comments here. Make sure you let these companies know how you feel. If you don't say anything they think you don't care.
Hello Stephanie and all,
Would you please consider adding us to your made in america site?
We have been manufacturing glass tableware and art glass for on 30+ yrs now!
Thanks for looking if you do!
www.HathcoatStudios.com
www.BrittanyCollection.com
Renee Hathcoat
Hi
I just found your 'still made in the USA' site, excellent resource, thanks for taking the time to put it together.
Some people on the list will be seeing some of my money - look what you've done for the trade deficit!
Thanks again
SBW
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