Volkswagen is preparing to bring automotive-style safety technology to the eBike market with a new Smart eBike featuring integrated radar, cameras, intelligent lighting and connected wearable technology.
Developed and produced by n+ under licence from Volkswagen, the new Volkswagen Smart eBike will make its public debut at IFA Berlin from 4–8 September 2026, where visitors will be able to see the bike on display and take part in test rides.
At the centre of the new model is Smart View, described as the first fully integrated radar-activated rear-view camera system fitted to a production eBike. It forms part of a wider connected safety package incorporating intelligent lighting, heads-up display glasses and a crash-detecting smart helmet.
The aim is straightforward: give riders more information about what is happening around them without requiring them to take their attention away from the road ahead.
Peter Jost, CEO of Volkswagen Accessories, said: “The Volkswagen Smart eBike demonstrates how technologies already established in the automotive sector can be intelligently transferred to two wheels.
“The optional radar-activated rear-view camera is an unprecedented innovation for production eBikes, and reliably detects approaching traffic and helps address the blind spots that can leave riders vulnerable.
“By combining this technology with intelligent lighting and connected rider equipment, the eBike shows what modern assistance systems can achieve – enhancing awareness, supporting safer decisions and giving riders greater confidence in everyday traffic.”
Smart View monitors traffic from behind
Smart View combines a high-resolution colour display integrated into the handlebars with a radar and camera unit incorporated into the rear mudguard.
The radar continually monitors traffic up to 70 metres behind the rider, identifying vehicles and other road users approaching at a higher speed. Unlike systems relying on sound, its operation is unaffected by wind noise or surrounding traffic, while the camera provides a live rearward view on the handlebar display.
Riders can choose between three display settings.
The standard dashboard displays speed, pedal assistance, power output, battery status and journey information, while a second setting provides a permanent rear-camera view. In Auto Mode, the display automatically switches to the rear-facing camera when the radar detects approaching traffic.
An orange warning bar appears across the camera image when another road user is approaching. When the normal dashboard is being displayed, a blind-spot warning indicator provides the alert instead.
The system is intended to tackle one of the fundamental problems facing cyclists in traffic: understanding what is approaching from behind without repeatedly turning away from the road ahead.
That could prove particularly useful when passing parked vehicles, moving around an obstruction, preparing to turn or positioning the bike in busy traffic.
Intelligent lighting reacts to approaching vehicles
The radar system also communicates with full-length LED lighting strips integrated into both sides of the eBike’s top tube.
During normal riding these operate as amber side marker lights, but automatically become brighter when the radar identifies a vehicle approaching from behind, helping make the cyclist more visible during an overtake.
The lighting strips also operate as turn signals and brake indicators and work alongside an integrated rear brake and tail light.
Illuminated Volkswagen emblems at the front and rear provide another distinctive element to the bike’s lighting package.
Smart Glasses put information in the rider’s eyeline
Volkswagen and n+ have extended the connected safety concept beyond the bike itself with optional Smart Glasses.
The lightweight glasses feature a microOLED heads-up display capable of presenting radar-generated blind-spot warnings, turn-by-turn Google Maps navigation and riding information including speed, distance and remaining battery charge.
Connected to the bike through Bluetooth, the glasses allow key information to be displayed within the rider’s natural field of view.
An intentional eye movement towards the top-right of the lens can activate or deactivate the display, allowing it to remain unobtrusive when it is not required.
At 47g, the Smart Glasses are designed to function as conventional sunglasses as well as part of the eBike’s connected technology package.
Smart Helmet adds crash detection
Completing the system is a Smart Helmet designed to improve both rider visibility and post-accident safety.
More than 500 lumens of LED lighting are positioned around the front, rear and sides of the helmet. These can automatically mirror the eBike’s brake lights and indicators, meaning surrounding traffic receives braking and turning signals from both the bicycle and the rider.
The helmet is certified to the NTA 8776 standard for higher-speed eBike use and incorporates MIPS technology, designed to help reduce rotational forces during certain angled impacts.
Built-in crash detection can also automatically notify emergency contacts and provide the rider’s location following a serious impact.
An IP67 rating provides protection against dust and water, while its 1,350mAh battery is claimed to provide between three hours of continuous operation and up to 30 hours in beacon mode. Charging is via USB-C.
A connected approach to eBike safety
Rather than relying on a single safety feature, the Volkswagen Smart eBike has been developed around several layers of assistance.
Radar identifies approaching traffic, the camera gives the rider a visual picture of what is happening behind, intelligent lighting improves visibility to other road users and the Smart Glasses bring warnings into the rider’s eyeline. The Smart Helmet then adds another layer of visibility together with crash detection.
According to n+, the combined technology creates a connected safety system spanning the bike, rider and surrounding traffic.
The company is positioning the Smart eBike as the “world’s safest eBike”, although that remains a manufacturer claim rather than an independently established safety ranking.
Volkswagen Smart eBike – key details
- Developer/manufacturer: n+, under licence from Volkswagen
- Safety system: Smart View
- Rear detection: Integrated radar and camera
- Radar range: Up to 70 metres
- Display modes: Dashboard, rear camera and automatic
- Lighting: Adaptive LED side strips, brake and turn indicators
- Wearable technology: Smart Glasses with microOLED HUD
- Helmet: NTA 8776 certified with MIPS
- Helmet lighting: More than 500 lumens
- Crash detection: Automatic emergency contact notification
- Helmet protection: IP67
- IFA Berlin: 4–8 September 2026
- Location: Volkswagen Stand Großen Stern SOM-201 and Mobility Test Track
Availability
The Volkswagen Smart eBike, Smart Glasses and Smart Helmet are available to order through the Smart Bike website.
Visitors attending IFA Berlin will also be able to test ride the Smart eBike on the Mobility Test Track, including demonstrations of the radar-activated Smart View rear-camera system and the accompanying Smart Glasses and Smart Helmet.
Motoring Echo Verdict
The Volkswagen Smart eBike is an interesting example of technology migrating from cars to bicycles. Rear radar is already familiar in parts of the cycling world, but integrating radar detection with a live camera, adaptive lighting, heads-up glasses and a connected helmet takes the idea considerably further.
For riders regularly commuting through busy urban traffic, the ability to know that a faster vehicle is approaching without continually looking over a shoulder could have genuine value.
The technology cannot replace observation, road awareness or responsible riding, but as an additional layer of information it could make increasingly sophisticated rider-assistance systems a much bigger part of the next generation of eBikes.
