Kent International closes South Carolina bike factory
Kent International will shut its Bicycle Corporation of America facility in Manning, South Carolina in June 2025, and lay off 64 employees. Chairperson Arnold Kamler said the move was largely driven by high tariffs on Chinese-made parts, which has made US assembly financially unfeasible.
Some 90% of Kent bikes are imported from China, and in March alone, Kent paid US$3.1 million in tariffs. The company has since cancelled new orders from China and said restarting operation at South Carolina would require major policy changes.
