Who Manufactures Co-Op Bikes? | Factories And Countries

Quick Answer And Why It Matters

REI owns the Co-op Cycles brand and handles design, specs, and quality standards. Production is outsourced to proven bicycle factories overseas. Recent U.S. recall filings for Co-op kids’ bikes show manufacturing in China and Cambodia. That tells you two things: these bikes are made by large OEM partners that can scale, and REI remains the legal “manufacturer of record” for U.S. compliance. If you’re choosing between brands, it helps to know you’re buying an REI-designed product built in the same global supply chain that produces most bikes sold in America.

Who Manufactures Co-Op Bikes? Myths Versus Reality

Let’s clear the air around the question, “who manufactures co-op bikes?” Many riders assume one famous factory makes every frame. In practice, large retailers work with multiple contract partners by category and price point. Frames and complete builds can come from different plants, and e-bikes may add a separate battery and motor supplier. The result is a global network, coordinated by REI’s product team, that balances cost, availability, safety testing, and serviceability.

It’s normal in the bike industry not to publish factory names. Even legacy brands protect supplier lists because those relationships are a competitive advantage and shift over time. What matters to riders is the standard the brand enforces. REI’s name on the head badge signals that its engineers set the geometry, component mix, and testing plan, while the factory executes under contract.

Where Co-Op Cycles Are Built Today

Independent filings provide the best window into where bikes roll off the line. A recent U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission notice for Co-op Cycles REV kids’ models lists “Manufactured in: China and Cambodia.” That aligns with broader industry trends: mass-market and kids’ lines often come from China or Cambodia, while some mid to higher tiers are frequently sourced from Taiwan or Vietnam. REI does not post specific factory names, and those can change year to year as capacity moves.

Co-Op Cycles Lineup At A Glance (Use And Typical Parts)

This table maps the main ranges to their typical use and the common component brands you’ll see at a given price—handy when you’re comparing builds side by side at the shop.

Range	Primary Use	Typical Component Brands
CTY (City/Hybrid)	Daily riding, bike paths, mixed pavement	Shimano drivetrains, Tektro brakes, SR Suntour forks on select trims
DRT (Mountain)	Trail and light singletrack	Shimano drivetrains, Tektro or Shimano brakes, SR Suntour/RockShox on select trims
ADV (Adventure/Gravel)	Gravel roads, light touring	Shimano GRX or equivalent, mechanical or hydraulic discs
CTY e/Generation e (E-Bike)	Urban errands, short commutes	Bafang hub motors, Bafang batteries, Tektro hydraulics
REV (Kids)	First bikes, youth trail/park	Single-speed or simple geared setups, coaster/mechanical rim or disc
ARX/Lightweight Kids	Pedal-happy kids who outgrew training wheels	Alloy frames, narrower bars, child-friendly gearing
Generation e (Cargo-Style)	Groceries, school runs, flat-bar utility	Bafang motor system, integrated rear rack, wide tires

How A House-Brand Bike Gets Made

Design And Spec

REI’s team starts with rider feedback and service data from its stores. They lock in frame geometry, tire clearance, eyelets for racks and fenders, and the price-to-parts mix. This is why two brands at the same price can feel different: geometry and component choices are brand decisions, not factory defaults.

Supplier Sourcing

Once the frame and bill of materials are set, REI places the work with an OEM partner. That factory orders tubes or monocoque materials, fixtures the frame, welds or molds, and handles paint and decals. Drivetrains, brakes, wheels, rubber, and finishing kit come from familiar names like Shimano, Tektro, Kenda, and WTB. For e-bikes, the motor and battery system is typically Bafang in Co-op’s utility line, which makes parts and service straightforward across stores.

Testing, Labels, And Compliance

Before a bike hits the sales floor, it goes through safety testing and labeling to meet U.S. standards. That’s why you’ll see country-of-origin markings and a serial number format that traces back to a production line. Retailer house brands such as REI appear as the “manufacturer” in U.S. recall databases because they’re responsible for the remedy and compliance, even when a contract factory produced the bike.

Who Makes Co-Op Bikes Now By Model Range

Because supplier contracts shift, you won’t find a single permanent answer. A kids’ 16-inch might come from one Cambodian plant this year and a sister facility in China next year. A gravel frame could be welded in Vietnam while the wheels are laced in Taiwan. E-bikes mix electronics and frames from different specialists. The constant is the brand’s spec and service network, not a single factory name.

What We Can Say With Evidence

Manufactured Countries On Record

Regulatory filings show recent Co-op kids’ bikes coming from China and Cambodia. That matches the broader shift of high-volume categories into Southeast Asia during tariff swings and supply squeezes. Big OEMs added lines in Vietnam and Cambodia over the last decade, while Taiwan remains a hub for mid to higher-end frames. In short, Co-op Cycles are part of the same global map as most mainstream brands sold in the U.S.

Common E-Bike System Partners

Co-op’s Generation e1-series uses Bafang hub motors and batteries. Service parts are widely available, and many REI stores stock spares or can order them quickly. That’s useful if you’re weighing an REI e-bike against a direct-to-consumer model that lacks in-person support.

How This Affects Quality And Service

Frame Quality

Modern contract factories build frames for many familiar names. The difference you feel on the trail or street comes from the frame design, material spec, and QC targets. REI’s warranty and nationwide service network backstop the product, which matters more than which welding line stamped the serial.

Parts And Upgrades

Because Co-op Cycles spec mainstream components, upgrades are easy. Shimano cassettes, Tektro pads, and standard handlebar and seatpost sizes keep your options open. With e-bikes, Bafang makes third-party chargers and displays easy to source if you ever need a replacement.

Resale And Total Cost

House-brand bikes hold value when they’re easy to service. Co-op’s use of common standards, plus REI’s in-store support, tends to help resale. Keep receipts, charger, and any recall or service paperwork with the bike to reassure the next owner.

How To Verify Where Your Specific Co-Op Bike Was Made

Check The Label And Serial

Flip the bike and look near the bottom bracket shell. You’ll find the serial number and country of origin stamp. That’s the most direct answer to the “who manufactures co-op bikes?” question for your exact unit, since contracts and plants change over time.

Use The Product Page And Specs

REI’s current product pages list component specs and sizing. While they won’t name the factory, the parts list tells you a lot about service paths and long-term costs. If you’re comparing trims, look for brake type, fork model, and tire clearance first; those shape ride feel more than minor weight differences.

Ask The Service Counter

Service staff see warranty bulletins and model updates. If a mid-year running change swaps in a new fork or gear range, they’ll know. That insight can steer you toward the better build if a previous batch had quirks.

Evidence Backing The Countries And Suppliers

You can read the U.S. government recall page that names China and Cambodia as manufacturing countries for recent Co-op kids’ bikes; it’s the clearest public document on record. Industry coverage also explains how North American brands commonly outsource frames and complete bikes to large Asian OEMs, with Taiwan, China, Vietnam, and Cambodia forming the core production map. Pair those sources with REI’s own pages that define the Co-op Cycles lineup and you have a reliable picture: REI designs, global partners build, and REI stands behind the product.

Manufacturing Snapshot By Country

Country/Region	What It Typically Supplies	Evidence/Notes
China	High-volume complete bikes, kids’ models, e-bike assembly	Listed on recent U.S. recall filings for Co-op kids’ bikes
Cambodia	Kids’ and value-tier bikes through large OEM plants	Named with China on the same recall notice
Taiwan	Mid to higher-end frames; industry OEM hub	Industry reporting describes Taiwan as a major OEM center
Vietnam	Growing frame and bike assembly capacity	Trade coverage details rapid OEM expansion
Multiple	E-bike systems (motors, batteries, chargers)	Bafang supplies motor/battery systems on Generation e models

Choosing The Right Co-Op Cycles Bike

If You Want A Daily Rider

Start with CTY. You get mounts for racks and fenders, tire room for comfort, and simple gearing for mixed urban miles.

If You Want Trails And Fire Roads

Look at DRT. Pay attention to brake type and fork model as you move up trims. Hydraulic discs and an air-spring fork are worth the stretch if you ride hills.

If You Want Utility And Errands

The Generation e1 series offers a stout rear rack, wide tires, and a friendly riding position. The Bafang system gives a smooth assist and broad service coverage. Pick the battery capacity based on your route length and hills.

Bottom Line For Buyers

Co-op Cycles is REI’s house brand: REI designs the bikes, contracts the builds to experienced factories, and supports them through stores nationwide. Public filings confirm recent manufacturing in China and Cambodia, with broader industry production spanning Taiwan and Vietnam as well. If you want a straight answer to who manufactures co-op bikes, the most accurate one is this: REI is the brand and legal manufacturer, and trusted Asian OEMs build the bikes to REI’s spec.

Helpful Links Inside The Article

For hard proof on recent manufacturing countries, see the CPSC recall details. For industry context on outsourcing to Asian OEMs, read this Cyclingnews OEM explainer. To view current Co-op models and specs, browse the REI Co-op Cycles bikes page.