Schwinn Bicycle Company was originally founded as Arnold, Schwinn and Company in Chicago, Illinois, in 1895 by Ignaz Schwinn and financial backer Fredrick Arnold. Before the automobile, bicycles were common and Chicago was the heart of bicycle manufacturing.
By the early 1900’s, however, bicycles fell out of fashion and sales declined to about 25% of their previous high. Schwinn survived by acquiring competitors and building a state of the art manufacturing facility.
Schwinn hopes to win over new customers with the introduction of a new electric bicycle.
Due to the increased popularity of bicycles during the coronavirus, Schwinn created an indoor bike that cost one third of the popular Peloton.
Company headquarters are located in Madison, Wisconsin.