1972
From the beginning
Legend has it that our founder, Ike Tseng, travelled to the USA as an engineer for a motor scooter business. There he saw a sign in a bike shop doorway stating “we don’t repair poor quality Taiwanese bicycles”.
The rest, as they say, is history. In 1972, Ike returned home and set up a bike factory, determined to change that perception. The business grew making bikes for other people; many millions of bikes for many well-known brands, building a strong reputation for quality. Ike wasn’t just a talented engineer, he was a visionary, many of the ideas he generated changed the course of the global bike industry.
1974
BMX & 10 Speed Road Bike production for the US market
The first mass-production projects were BMX & 10-speed road bike production, primarily aimed at the US market.
1980
MTB production for US market gets underway
At the beginning of the 1980s, a new style of bike started to emerge – the mountain bike. We were there from the very beginning, producing MTBs for the US market.
1988
The Merida brand
Somewhere in the mists of time Einar Steen-Olsen, a Norwegian merchant sea captain, wasn’t paid by a customer, so he seized the container of bikes he’d shipped for him and discovered he could sell them at a profit.
In 1988 Einar visited Merida, Taiwan and collaborated with them to create a tiny range of bikes. They planned everything in meticulous detail but gave no thought to branding. At the last minute they decided to put the Merida name on them.
This is how a global brand was born.
1995
Our first-generation eBike
Well ahead of its time, Merida created its first-generation pedelec (eBike), laying the foundations for its successful, award and test-winning bikes predecessors in future years.
Technically Innovative
Ike astounded the world in the late 80s by creating robot welders to improve welding consistency.
A whole new generation of robots exist in the factory today, supplementing a team of very highly skilled and experienced human welders.
Consistent investment ensures Merida remain cutting edge. Our paint plants are air locked to keep them dust free.
We’ve replaced single station CNC machines with multi stage laser cutters to further improve quality and efficiency.
1998
Magnesium bikes introduced
Always on the search for new innovations and materials to work with, Merida came across magnesium. Whilst this was a challenging material to work with, it offered impressively low weight and stiffness, characteristics many racers seek.
2000
All female mountain bike World Cup team launched
Merida and the team around Ike Tseng had a close interest in racing so an all-female mountain bike team was launched, exposing Merida to the broader world of cycling and testing products under the most demanding conditions. The team started with Sabine Spitz in 2000, with Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå joining in 2001, and Irina Kalentieva riding in Merida colours from 2002 onwards.
2002
Gunn-Rita Dahle wins her 1st XCO World Championships.
Still a relatively fresh face within the Merida MTB team, Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå managed to secure her first XCO World Championship in Kaprun, Austria. Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå and Merida went on to become one of the most successful partnerships in the world of cross-country racing.
2004
Partnering with Volkswagen to create the Multivan Merida Team
Following the success of the Merida MTB team, Merida joined forces with Volkswagen to create the Multivan Merida Team; one of, if not the most, successful mountain bike teams. The team went on to win over 30 World Cups, two Olympic medals, 15 European titles and 15 World Championship honours across the cross country, marathon and eliminator disciplines.
2011
Advanced, environmentally friendly paint plants introduced to our factory
Following the renovation of the factory only a few years earlier, Merida introduced one of the most advanced, environmentally friendly paint plants in the world, helping improve both working conditions for the staff and the sustainability of the production process.
2013
UCI World Tour level road racing sponsorship
Merida's ambition to become involved in UCI World Tour level road racing took shape with the launch of the Lampre-Merida team.
2016
eOne-Sixty was launched – the most decorated bike in Merida's history
Merida produced many bikes that impressed the cycling press and riders over the years but nobody was prepared for the uproar the eOne-Sixty generated. Within months of its launch, it started collecting test wins, awards and press accolades that remain unrivalled to this day. The bike helped change the perception of the Merida brand, positioning us as a key player in the newly emerging e-mountain bike sector.
2018
Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå won her 30th World Cup
Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjå won her 30th World Cup 22 years after winning her first. Her win followed the European Marathon Championship the year before she retired from World Cup racing. Besides her record-breaking wins, Gunn-Rita achieved 10 World Champion, 9 European Champion titles and Olympic Gold, making her cycling career one of the most illustrious in recent history.
2018
Introduction of laser cutting technology
To minimise production time, reduce waste and improve accuracy Merida introduced laser cutting technology to its production facilities. Robot-controlled technology allows bikes to maintain their distinctive silhouettes without sacrificing strength or durability. The incredibly high precision means cleaner tubing cuts, resulting in stronger finished joints. This technology is especially important for the growing e-bike line-up, requiring large frame openings for easy battery insertion. As ever, investing in technology helps keep Merida bikes at the cutting edge of production techniques.
2020
Merida supports the Bahrain-McLaren team
Merida remained on board as the bike supplier and technical partner post management changes, supplying equipment to some of the best riders in the world and learning from the demanding, uncompromising world of World Tour racing.
