Zéfal returns to the lighting market with a new positioning

Zéfal has decided to make the 2025 vintage a key stage in its history by returning to a technical market with strong potential: lighting dedicated to cyclists. With this launch, the Jargeau-based company in the Loiret region is also taking the opportunity to clearly demonstrate an upscale move for its brand. This product family around lighting, comprising eight new references, complements an already very wide range of accessories dedicated to cyclists.

Source: press release

The result of 18 months of research and development, this range was designed around three main axes: durability, ease of use, and performance. These strong assets will quickly meet a general objective of strengthening cycling safety, in a context of strong growth in cycling practice, in all its forms.

“Don’t just ride, get noticed”

A historical player in the market for cycling accessories, Zéfal is returning to a segment it left fifteen years ago: lighting.
While cycling has largely developed in recent years, in all its forms (sportive cycling, urban cycling, ultra-cycling, gravel), user safety on the road is more than ever a key issue. Indeed, according to a recent Ipsos study, “61% of French people find cycling dangerous”. It is based on this observation that Zéfal is returning to this market, with commercial ambitions, of course, but also a desire to raise awareness about safety. “We must enable as many people as possible to feel confident in their practice. This involves an attitude, but also good reflexes, such as ensuring you are seen on the road,” reminds Aurélien Brunet, CEO of Zéfal.

It is now clear that the growth in the number of cyclists must be accompanied by awareness-raising efforts, to enable cyclists and motorists to easily share the road. It is around this awareness-raising work that Zéfal has oriented its launch campaign with an evocative slogan “stop being visible, be brilliant”, echoing the name of its Supervision range. “We have an essential message to convey about safety, and not just for those who ride at night. Daytime visibility is just as important for cyclists,” specifies Nicolas Chaumier, lighting product manager. Seeing and being seen are two now inseparable aspects, for which Zéfal now provides solutions.

Products covering all practices

True to its promise to design cycling accessories for all types of practices, Zéfal has created this range of lights with the desire to offer highly developed products, whether for riding a few kilometers in the city after work, or for long hours at night for the more athletic.
“Whatever the product, the quality requirements were the same. Battery life, reliability, and performance were the main components of our specifications when designing this new range,” reports Nicolas Chaumier. To illustrate this desire for a general upgrade of Zéfal products, these new products have undergone an 18-month R&D cycle and numerous laboratory tests, which measured the power, battery life, and general resistance of the products. On each aspect, the goal was to be above the best of their competitors.

And the product manager continues: “In terms of battery life, our references have superior properties to the competition at equal intensity. On the R150 rear light, for example, our battery life is twice as good as the competition, at equal intensity.” But these performances are not the only aspect that the French manufacturer wanted to work on. “In an obvious CSR logic, we wanted to maximize the lifespan. The solidity of the lamp body was one of the criteria to work on for this. All our front lights are thus equipped with an aluminum head, to dissipate the heat generated by the beam and for greater durability over time. Secondly, we obviously favored very high-quality rechargeable batteries over disposable ones. And this durability also involved standards, such as the IPX6 standard, which certifies that all our products are resistant to powerful water jets.”

With such standards, riding in the rain is almost the primary purpose of these products! The last key aspect of this range that had to be checked off on the specifications was ease of use for the user, to allow easy adjustment of light intensities, and to easily visualize the lighting mode you are on, even while riding.
Finally, all products have been designed for tool-free mounting with universal mounts, allowing them to be attached to the bike frame or luggage, for example. These features are therefore found on six new products, as well as two lighting packs (front and rear), and five accessories allowing all types of mounting. With their significant power and battery life, the Supervision F1500, F800, F200, and R150 lights will be true allies for tackling the darkness of country or peri-urban routes. The 1500 lumens of the Supervision F1500 will allow you to see the pitfalls of the trails, while the Supervision R150 will ensure you are seen from afar by road users thanks to its 16-hour battery life in flash or continuous mode.

The Vision F20 and R20, available in a pack, are essential products for being seen by other road users, whether in daytime or nighttime conditions. A minimalist weight of 40 grams allows a maximum power of 20 lumens for a battery life of up to 65 hours.
International ambitions
Created more than 140 years ago, the family business, which has seen five generations succeed at its helm, produces 60% of its references in France. Nevertheless, it is with an international stature that
Zéfal is re-entering the lighting market, as Aurélien Brunet specifies: “This launch is an important step in the life of the company; we are arriving with very high-quality products at an affordable price, which should allow us to quickly become one of the world leaders in this market.”

And he continues: “We have had a strong position on safety for years, notably with anti-theft devices, bells, and mirrors. We have been successfully present in the bicycle lighting market for years. We are returning with historical know-how and after several years of research and development that meets the expectations of our retailers. Note that we are already working on an expansion of this range for the coming seasons.”