Dutch e-bike startup VanMoof is again two years after chapter with its first mannequin designed beneath new management. And regardless of previous criticism that VanMoof’s over-reliance on customized components led to the corporate’s downfall, the S6 sticks to the model’s signature bespoke design.
Right now, VanMoof is betting that greater high quality customized components, alongside a extra sturdy servicing community, will enable it to remain true to its design-forward, tech-heavy core, whereas avoiding the restore and servicing pitfalls that got here out of scaling a specialised product too shortly.
“I don’t suppose there’s a motive for VanMoof to exist if we’re going to make use of off-the-shelf components like everybody else,” co-CEO Elliot Wertheimer advised TechCrunch backstage at Micromobility Europe in Brussels this week. “We’re right here to push design, to have a motorcycle that, in the event you’ve by no means ridden an e-bike in your life, you get on it and it’s intuitive. Straightforward, like an iPhone.”
VanMoof beforehand raised greater than $200 million in enterprise capital and gained a cult following for its premium, minimalist-designed e-bikes geared up with built-in lights, batteries, and motors.
VanMoof’s distinctive promoting level grew to become its largest legal responsibility. Like many venture-backed {hardware} companies, the corporate grew too shortly to function sustainably. When bikes broke down, clients have been left stranded by an underdeveloped restore community and constrained provide — a consequence of the corporate’s resolution to make use of customized components as an alternative of off-the-shelf elements.
The startup filed for chapter in July 2023. A month later it was scooped up by e-scooter maker Lavoie, a enterprise division of McLaren Utilized, which itself was previously part of McLaren Group that builds components for the McLaren F1.
Wertheimer mentioned with help from McLaren Utilized’s Formulation 1 experience, VanMoof was in a position to redesign each part that had induced points in previous fashions, utilizing efficiency knowledge to create extra dependable customized components. A lot of these components are co-designed with giant producers, which not solely assures high quality, but in addition availability of components ought to something occur to VanMoof once more, in line with Wertheimer.
In sure areas of the enterprise, VanMoof relented to a extra industry-standard method. The corporate’s batteries, for instance, at the moment are co-designed and manufactured by Panasonic; VanMoof solely provides the mechanical and software program integration. Beforehand, VanMoof had led on battery design.
The actual important piece, although, is an improved help community, in line with Wertheimer.
“We mounted the entire enterprise, from unit economics, logistics, and after-sale service,” Wertheimer mentioned. “We couldn’t exit with one thing new earlier than we arrange the infrastructure to take action.”
VanMoof has constructed up a community of 250 restore facilities and 130 gross sales companions, and is focusing gross sales on markets like Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.
“We’ve constructed a tech suite for [our repair partners] by way of the place they will purchase elements, a diagnostics app, a correct monitoring system that tracks which components went the place, et cetera, to make guarantee claims simpler for them,” Wertheimer mentioned, including that VanMoof has arrange an internet coaching course for mechanic companions. “That’s tremendous nicely arrange and we’re rising the community quick. We’re including 10 shops per week.”
VanMoof additionally hopes to launch within the U.S. by the tip of 2025. Nevertheless, Wertheimer mentioned these plans have stalled as the corporate waits to see how President Trump’s tariffs coverage shakes out.
The corporate has already began taking reservations for the S6 in its present lively markets, and expects to ship the primary few thousand automobiles to start with of August.
The VanMoof S6: A brand new hope
Clients have been already complaining about gradual restore instances earlier than VanMoof’s transient shutdown in 2023. When it went bankrupt, some clients stranded with damaged bikes; others who had put down deposits for brand spanking new bikes have been out tons of of {dollars}. Belief within the model plummeted.
Whereas some could by no means forgive VanMoof for its failures, the brand new S6 may may simply assist clients keep in mind why they cherished the model within the first place.
I gave the S6 a fast spin this week in Brussels and was delighted to lastly perceive why so many riders had as soon as gone gaga for VanMoof.
It’s a sexy-looking bike. The S6 has the long-lasting VanMoof body, made even sleeker with no seen welding. It additionally is available in a number of matte colours, together with an “electrical blue” that seemed extra like lilac to me, and a pearl mint that Wertheimer says “adjustments within the gentle” from white to inexperienced.
“We spent a number of time on the colours,” he mentioned.
The tech options are additionally spectacular. Wertheimer mentioned the corporate redesigned the digital suite with assist from McLaren Utilized to make sure longevity even after the bike has been via its paces in rain, chilly, warmth, and different circumstances.
The S6 platform delivers different options that VanMoof followers will acknowledge, just like the Halo Ring which replaces a conventional show and glows completely different colours to maintain riders knowledgeable about battery life and pace. The Halo on the S6 is far brighter, addressing complaints from previous fashions of it being too dim in direct daylight.
New tech options embrace an built-in navigation that pairs the bike to an accompanying cellular app, offering turn-by-turn instructions through the Halo lights and sounds. There’s additionally a brand new sound ecosystem, which features a mushy, however agency, cricket-like sound {that a} rider can use instead of a bell to alert different street customers to their presence.
Anti-theft options have come commonplace on virtually all VanMoof e-bike fashions, however Wertheimer says the S6 is even higher.
“We’ve a brand new monitoring system that’s far more correct,” he mentioned, noting the system depends on mobile tower triangulation, GPS sign, WiFi, and Bluetooth to find out location of the car inside 2 meters.
Wertheimer additionally mentioned VanMoof will quickly introduce crash detection and different security options.
As for the trip itself, the S6’s improved mechanical shifting system comes pre-tuned from the manufacturing facility and routinely adjusts primarily based on pace, permitting for smoother momentum. It additionally works in tandem with the bike’s 4 pedal-assist ranges. The front-wheel motor, co-developed with “a significant Japanese producer,” contributes to a extra pure, intuitive driving expertise. And the brand new suspension seatpost handles bumps within the street nicely. For a motorcycle that solely weighs 51 kilos, it’s surprisingly sturdy.
And, in fact, the long-lasting enhance button provides that additional little bit of oomph, making riders really feel like they’ve simply ridden over a mushroom in Mario Kart.
“After we took over VanMoof, we inherited nice design, and a formidable product ecosystem,” Wertheimer mentioned. “We spent two years rebuilding our firm and model to achieve this launch…We’re prepared to point out the world what we will do once more. That’s what we see within the S6, our ebike that may ship on 11 years of guarantees.”
