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 elements led to the corporate’s downfall, the S6 sticks to the model’s signature bespoke design.
At this time, VanMoof is betting that larger high quality customized elements, alongside a extra strong servicing community, will permit 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 rapidly.
“I don’t think there’s a reason for VanMoof to exist if we’re going to use off-the-shelf parts like everyone else,” co-CEO Elliot Wertheimer advised TechCrunch backstage at Micromobility Europe in Brussels this week. “We’re here to push design, to have a bike that, if you’ve never ridden an e-bike in your life, you get on it and it’s intuitive. Easy, 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 outfitted with built-in lights, batteries, and motors.
VanMoof’s distinctive promoting level grew to become its greatest legal responsibility. Like many venture-backed {hardware} companies, the corporate grew too rapidly to function sustainably. When bikes broke down, prospects have been left stranded by an underdeveloped restore community and constrained provide — a consequence of the corporate’s determination to make use of customized elements as an alternative of off-the-shelf parts.
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 elements for the McLaren F1.
Wertheimer stated with help from McLaren Utilized’s Method 1 experience, VanMoof was in a position to redesign each part that had precipitated points in previous fashions, utilizing efficiency knowledge to create extra dependable customized elements. Lots of these elements are co-designed with massive producers, which not solely assures high quality, but in addition availability of elements ought to something occur to VanMoof once more, in accordance 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 true essential piece, although, is an improved help community, in accordance with Wertheimer.
“We fixed the whole business, from unit economics, logistics, and after-sale service,” Wertheimer stated. “We couldn’t go out with something new before we set up the infrastructure to do so.”
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 have built a tech suite for [our repair partners] in terms of where they can buy components, a diagnostics app, a proper tracking system that tracks which parts went where, et cetera, to make warranty claims easier for them,” Wertheimer stated, including that VanMoof has arrange a web-based coaching course for mechanic companions. “That’s super well set up and we’re growing the network fast. We’re adding 10 stores a week.”
VanMoof additionally hopes to launch within the U.S. by the tip of 2025. Nonetheless, Wertheimer stated 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 autos at first of August.
The VanMoof S6: A brand new hope
Prospects have been already complaining about gradual restore instances earlier than VanMoof’s temporary shutdown in 2023. When it went bankrupt, some prospects stranded with damaged bikes; others who had put down deposits for brand spanking new bikes have been out lots 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 prospects bear 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 “electric blue” that regarded extra like lilac to me, and a pearl mint that Wertheimer says “changes in the light” from white to inexperienced.
“We spent a lot of time on the colors,” he stated.
The tech options are additionally spectacular. Wertheimer stated the corporate redesigned the digital suite with assist from McLaren Utilized to make sure longevity even after the bike has been by means of 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 velocity. 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 by way of the Halo lights and sounds. There’s additionally a brand new sound ecosystem, which features a smooth, however agency, cricket-like sound {that a} rider can use instead of a bell to alert different highway customers to their presence.
Anti-theft options have come commonplace on nearly all VanMoof e-bike fashions, however Wertheimer says the S6 is even higher.
“We have a new tracking system that’s much more accurate,” he stated, noting the system depends on mobile tower triangulation, GPS sign, WiFi, and Bluetooth to find out location of the automobile inside 2 meters.
Wertheimer additionally stated VanMoof will quickly introduce crash detection and different security options.
As for the experience itself, the S6’s improved mechanical shifting system comes pre-tuned from the manufacturing unit and robotically adjusts primarily based on velocity, 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 major Japanese manufacturer,” contributes to a extra pure, intuitive using expertise. And the brand new suspension seatpost handles bumps within the highway nicely. For a motorbike 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.
“When we took over VanMoof, we inherited great design, and an impressive product ecosystem,” Wertheimer stated. “We spent two years rebuilding our company and brand to reach this launch…We are ready to show the world what we can do again. That’s what we see in the S6, our ebike that can deliver on 11 years of promises.”
