 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Bicycles |
| Founded | 1898; 127 years ago (1898) |
| Headquarters | São Paulo, Brazil |
| Products | Bicycle and Related Components |
| Revenue |  US$137.8 million (2010) |
| US$18.8 million (2010) | |
Number of employees | 1,100 |
| Parent | Pon Holdings |
| Website | www |
CALOI S.A is a major Brazilian manufacturer ofbicycles and bicycle equipment, along with motorized cycles like the past Mobilette models, based inSão Paulo. In the 1960s, Caloi achieved some popularity, producingfolding bicycles.
Caloi was founded in 1898 byItalian immigrantLuigi Caloi and his brother-in-law,Agenor Poletti. The company was directed by the Caloi family from 1898 to 1999. When Luigi Caloi died in 1924, the company changed its name fromCasa Luiz Caloi (Portuguese forHouse of Luiz Caloi) toCasa Irmãos Caloi (Portuguese forHouse of Caloi Brothers), directed by Luigi's sons Guido, Henrique and José Pedro. In 1928, Henrique and José Pedro left the company, and Caloi was directed by Guido Caloi alone. In 1948, the company changed its name toIndústria e Comércio de Bicicletas Caloi S.A.. Guido died in 1955, and the company was directed by his sonBruno Caloi until 1999. In 1999, the Caloi family sold the majority of Caloi's voting shares toEdson Vaz Musa.[1] Bruno Caloi, who was the president of the CBC (the Brazilian Cycling Confederation) for many years, died in October 2006.[2] In 2013, 70% of Caloi's shares were acquired byDorel,[3][4] which also controls other bicycle manufacturers such asCannondale andSchwinn, among others. Dutch conglomeratePon Holdings acquired Caloi with the purchase of Dorel Sports in 2021.
In 1898 a shop was established in downtownSão Paulo, and until 1945 Caloi sold bicycles and parts imported from Europe. In 1945 Caloi established its first factory in the Brooklinpt neighbourhood of São Paulo, as importing parts from Europe became increasingly difficult due toWorld War II. In 1975, Caloi established a factory inManaus, taking advantage of the economic incentives of theFree Economic Zone of Manaus.In 1990 Caloi started the operations of its US subsidiary inJacksonville, Florida. In 2006, Caloi established a new factory inAtibaia, which replaced the São Paulo plant.[5]
Caloi manufactures a wide range of bicycles includingmountain bikes, comfort bikes,BMX, road bicycles and child bicycles.
In 1972 the company introduced its first road bike, theCaloi 10.[6] It became a cultural landmark in Brazil and remained in production until 1990. In 2005 theCaloi 10 name was reinstated for a new model that differs significantly from the original,[7] and remains in production as of 2016.
In 1983 the company introduced its first BMX model, theCaloi Cross Extra Light, replicating the style of the bikes that appear in the successfulE.T. the Extra-Terrestrial movie.
In 1989 the company introduced its first mountain bike, theCaloi Mountain Bike 18,[6] following the growing popularity ofMountain Bikes in theUnited States in the early 1980s.