Wahoo to grant Zwift a 'limited licence' as the two sides pledge to collaborate
(Image credit: Cyclingnews)
Zwift and Wahoo have today issued a joint statement announcing an agreement to settle the ongoing smart trainer patent dispute between the pair.
It relates to the multiple patent infringement lawsuits filed by Wahoo in October 2022 against Zwift for its 'Zwift Hub' smart trainer. Wahoo claimed at the time it was "identical, in all material respects" to its own Kickr Core trainer, allowing the Zwift to "reap the benefit of Wahoo's innovations, but without investing the time and money necessary to create Wahoo's innovations."
But it was revealed earlier this week that the court case had been settled. According to Bicycle Retailer, both parties asked the court to dismiss the case, with each side agreeing to pay its own legal fees.
At first there was little clarity surrounding how the agreement was made, but the brands have today issued a joint statement to explain the circumstances behind the decision.
"Zwift and Wahoo Fitness today confirm the amicable settlement of all pending litigation," the statement began. "The agreement will see both parties embark on a renewed approach to collaboration, with a view to growing the indoor fitness category and delivering continual, ongoing improvements to customers - through increased innovation, ease of use and better value."
Zwift is primarily a software company, and the Zwift app is among the most subscribed-to indoor cycling platforms in the world with "roughly one million" subscribers in February 2023 according to a report from DC Rainmaker.
You cannot use Zwift without a turbo trainer (treadmills aside), so the Zwift Hub trainer was a way for Zwift to own the whole purchase journey for its users, rather than relying on third party companies like Wahoo to provide a product that enabled the use of its app.
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It was originally intended to be an in-house design, but amid pressure during the post-pandemic downturn in May 2022, it scrapped the project, laying off around 150 of its 700 staff. It then turned to an existing but lesser known manufacturer, JetBlack Cycling, and licensed the design of its Volt trainer, making a few tweaks before launching the product in September 2022.
It launched with an aggressive pricing strategy, significantly undercutting both JetBlack's Volt and the similarly-specced Wahoo Kickr Core. Wahoo wasn't happy, and on the day that the Hub officially went on sale in October, the patent infringement lawsuits were filed. JetBlack was also swept up in the case but quickly settled, agreeing in December 2022 to cease sale of the product in certain markets.
The case with Zwift rumbled on. In April, DC Rainmaker reported that a judge denied Wahoo's request for a preliminary injunction to be placed on the Zwift Hub, which would have prevented Zwift from selling it in the United States were it approved.
A court timeline confirmed the case would remain ongoing until 2025, but last week it was unexpectedly settled. Reading between the lines of today's statement, it appears that Wahoo got what it wanted, as it has granted Zwift a "limited licence" to use the Wahoo patents.
"Wahoo has granted Zwift a limited licence to use its patents," the statement continued. "Zwift will continue to sell its Zwift Hub smart trainer in existing ecommerce markets - US, UK and Europe."
With that said, there's no mention of what, if anything, Zwift is paying for that licence.
Regardless, it appears that there will be no ongoing animosity between the two sides, as the two have agreed to promote–and even sell– the other's product, as well as package the two together.
"In addition to selling Zwift Hub, Zwift will return to selling a selection of Wahoo smart trainers, bikes and accessories on Zwift.com from mid-September. The assorted range will offer customers a simple selection across a range of price points, all sold with one year of Zwift.
"Wahoo Fitness will also offer customers the option to bundle one year of Zwift with the purchase of a smart trainer or bike via Wahoofitness.com."
Interestingly, in the wake of the agreement, Wahoo dropped the retail price of the Kickr Core trainer, making it a more competitive option in this budget direct drive trainer market. Whether that was purely in response to the new market landscape or a hint at a new product coming from the Atlanta brand, we can't be sure.
"Both parties look forward to sharing further details in the coming months," the statement concluded.
Josh is Associate Editor of Cyclingnews – leading our content on the best bikes, kit and the latest breaking tech stories from the pro peloton. He has been with us since the summer of 2019 and throughout that time he's covered everything from buyer's guides and deals to the latest tech news and reviews.
On the bike, Josh has been riding and racing for over 15 years. He started out racing cross country in his teens back when 26-inch wheels and triple chainsets were still mainstream, but he found favour in road racing in his early 20s, racing at a local and national level for Somerset-based Team Tor 2000. These days he rides indoors for convenience and fitness, and outdoors for fun on road, gravel, 'cross and cross-country bikes, the latter usually with his two dogs in tow.
