VanMoof makes a transfer: Lavoie acquires the e-bike startup out of chapter and plans to relaunch it

VanMoof, the flashy e-bike startup that skidded into chapter 11 this summer season, has gotten again by itself bike, so to talk. As we speak it was introduced that Lavoie, which makes electrical scooters, has acquired the enterprise out of administration. The corporate plans to put money into the model and relaunch the enterprise, it stated. That may embody offering providers to VanMoof’s current prospects, from the appears of it.

“With its subsequent era of e-bikes, sensible know-how, revolutionary design, and dependable buyer base, VanMoof and Lavoie match collectively completely,” stated Eliott Wertheimer, Lavoie CEO, in an announcement. “VanMoof has 190,000 prospects globally and our dedication is to proceed to maintain these riders on the highway while we stabilise and effectively develop the VanMoof enterprise and proceed to develop its world-class merchandise.”

Monetary phrases of the deal weren’t disclosed, however it’s actually a outstanding save for VanMoof.

VanMoof had raised greater than $200 million as an unbiased, venture-backed startup. In its vertically-integrated mannequin it managed not solely the design and manufacture of its e-bikes and the app to function their options, but in addition the distribution of them by means of its on-line retailer and a sequence of bodily retail places; in addition to a servicing community, just about the one solution to repair its custom-designed bikes after they wanted restore.

It attracted an enormous following with its slick design, and since its bikes had been so costly, there was a sure cachet connected to with the ability to afford one to make use of as your metropolis runaround.

However regardless of the nice look, the e-bikes usually turned out to be riddled with issues and it proved to be tedious, and costly, to restore them — each for homeowners and VanMoof itself, which was successfully dropping cash on each bike it offered due to the glitches and subsequent servicing burden. One in each 10 bikes was being despatched again purchase prospects, and in 2021 repairs value VanMoof practically $9 million (and it posted a loss attributable to that and different prices, eg in its retail enterprise). That dire enterprise mannequin, mixed with the present local weather for fundraising, meant that the startup couldn’t discover appropriate financing.

When VanMoof went bankrupt earlier within the 12 months, it left a provide companions, a sequence of retail operations it owned, and prospects with bikes on order and/or being repaired, all hanging within the wind.

We’ve reached out to Lavoie to ask what the corporate’s plans are for its retail and servicing operations, which might doubtlessly additionally cowl older VanMoof fashions, too. This text from Reuters implies that the retail enterprise at the very least won’t be relaunched.

London-based Lavoie comes from very totally different inventory. The enterprise is a division of McLaren Utilized, which itself was previously part of the McLaren Group that builds components for the McLaren F1 and different autos. It was divested through the lean years of Covid-19, and it’s now wholly-owned by Greybull Capital. We’ve requested if the plan will likely be to maneuver VanMoof from its older HQ in Amsterdam to London as a part of the deal, and whether or not the Carlier brothers, who co-founded and led VanMoof, will keep on in any capability.

Pointedly, there aren’t any VanMoof execs quoted within the announcement of the sale at the moment, nor any point out of plans on that entrance, however there’s a reference to Lavoie able to “faucet into the management of unbiased know-how pioneers McLaren Utilized.”

Lavoie says that the acquisition is a part of its technique to construct out its city mobility enterprise. That may embody e-bikes — hopefully fashions much less riddled with the bugs and different glitches that led to VanMoof’s earlier downfall — in addition to scooters. Lavoie launched its first and solely scooter mannequin, the Collection 1, in December final 12 months. Like VanMoof, Lavoie’s premium are priced at a premium to different electrical units available on the market, with the fundamental Collection 1 priced at $2,400 (its “Max” is extra max at $2,800).

“The acquisition of VanMoof underscores our dedication to strengthen and develop our world-leading e-mobility enterprise. We see an enormous potential to remodel the way in which individuals journey across the congested cities of the world in a extra lively and pleasant means,” stated Nick Fry, McLaren Utilized chairman, in an announcement. “This thrilling deal helps us to speed up international progress, permitting us to extend the dimensions and high quality of services and products we will supply to our prospects. We’re absolutely dedicated to being leaders in manufacturing premium e-mobility merchandise which can be redefining the class with every journey.”