The Pinion MGU, the world’s first fully integrated motor gearbox unit for e-bikes, was awarded the Audience Award at the VR INNOVATIONs Award 2025. The award ceremony took place on July 10 as part of the VR Innovation Congress at the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden in front of over 1,000 guests from the worlds of business, SMEs and finance.
The Pinion MGU (Motor.Gearbox.Unit), which was chosen by the public in an online vote, combines a gearbox and e-bike motor in one compact unit and sets new standards in terms of efficiency, low maintenance and riding experience. The Audience Award was presented for the first time on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Volksbanken Raiffeisenbanken competition in Baden-Württemberg – as a special prize in recognition of particularly forward-looking innovations.
“We are particularly pleased to receive this award from the public. With the MGU, we are bringing a real technological leap onto the road – so it’s all the better that this development is also recognized and appreciated outside the industry,” says Michael Schmitz, founder and Managing Director of Pinion. “This is a tailwind for our efforts to rethink the mobility of tomorrow.”
Dr. Ulrich Theileis, President of the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative Association (BWGV), presented the award in person. He emphasized the key role of SMEs for the innovative strength and future viability of the economy in Baden-Württemberg. The VR INNOVATIONs Award is one of the most important business awards in the southwest.
