OSAKA, Japan (May 27, 2022) – SHIMANO dealers in the United States and Canada will soon be able to enjoy SHIMANO’s hallmark quality service when dealing with selected Darfon batteries used on e-bikes with SHIMANO STEPS drive units. SHIMANO’s total system engineering approach means that the SHIMANO STEPS ecosystem not only offers perfect harmony with SHIMANO components but also the products of connected partners such as Darfon.
Previously, dealers requiring support with 3rd party batteries had to reach out to the bike manufacturer or the battery manufacturer. But now, SHIMANO is optimizing this handling process. Starting in May 2022, North American dealers will be able to get specific Darfon batteries serviced through the trusted SHIMANO network.
Nolan Moser, AVP SHIMANO North America Bicycle said, “We see clear benefits for both dealers and bike brands in this approach. Bike brands can count on SHIMANO’s first-class service support network in the bicycle industry. We will be handling the service cases for selected 3rd party batteries based on our structured and well-established practices, following all our rigorous policies, practices, and standards to reduce the burden on the bike brands.”
All compatible batteries share a ‘SHIMANO STEPS SERVICE’ sticker to make it easy for dealers to spot which batteries can be serviced via this new simplified approach. The batteries can also be identified using SHIMANO’s E-TUBE PROJECT.
“Dealers can also expect SHIMANO’s handling quality standards,” Moser said. “Dealers won’t have to handle SHIMANO STEPS system and battery claims separately. Therefore we’re proud to launch this value-adding initiative which improves the service quality for dealers and bike brands alike.”
US dealers can contact Technical Support at 1-800-423-2420, Monday through Friday, 7 am to 5 pm Pacific.
Canadian dealers can contact Technical Support at 1-877-377-5211, Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 5 pm Eastern.