A potential acquisition would allow the US giant to take advantage of VanMoof's existing infrastructure, technology and brand recognition, especially in European markets where electric bicycles are growing in popularity.
The potential offer brings a glimmer of hope to the thousands of owners of VanMoof bicycles from the bankrupt bicycle manufacturer. Micromobility.com, an American manufacturer of electric scooters and bicycles, has reported as a possible buyer. Last Monday, the company announced that it has made a provisional, non-binding offer for the Dutch bicycle maker.
Upon a successful acquisition, Micromobility plans to leverage its advanced e-bike technology and successful subscription model to enhance the group's product offerings. The company intends to continue to invest in the e-bike segment as it sees significant potential in this market in the coming years.
“We are aware of the challenges the micromobility sector is currently facing, but we strongly believe in the transformative power of this industry. The potential acquisition of VanMoof, known for its quality and innovation, is an exciting step towards our vision of a more sustainable and efficient future of urban transportation,” added CEO Palella toe.
De demise of VanMoof, which declared bankruptcy in July, came as a shock to many. The company had been struggling with financial problems for some time, partly due to the high repair costs of their specific e-bikes. These could only be repaired at VanMoof itself, resulting in long waiting times and a deluge of complaints from dissatisfied customers.
"This potential acquisition is part of our long-term strategy to strengthen our leadership position in the micromobility market and diversify our portfolio of solutions. VanMoof's strong brand reputation, innovative e-bike technology and unique subscription model perfectly align with our vision for the future of urban transportation ."
Salvatore Palella (founder of Helbiz) is an Italian-American entrepreneur with decades of experience in the consumer technology and transportation industries. Born in Italy, Salvatore moved to Dublin after finishing high school to start his career as an entrepreneur. This journey eventually led him back to Italy, where he founded his first company in the food sector. As speculation and talks continue, the future of VanMoof and its potential acquisition by Micromobility.com remains uncertain.
Although the exact amount of Micromobility.com's offer has not yet been announced, this is only a first step in the acquisition process. A non-binding offer is usually followed by a binding offer, after which VanMoof can decide to make further sales agreements. Micromobility has let them know that they are currently working on this binding offer.
An acquisition could mean new investment in essential parts production and a restart of repair services, which could help address the backlogs and complaints that have accumulated in recent months.
micromobility
Micromobility.com started with shared e-scooters in Italy in 2018, after which today they have grown into a multi-modal micro-mobility ecosystem offering e-scooters, e-bikes and e-mopeds for both short and long term rental , as well as sales. The belief is that cities are for people and to live in, not for cars, traffic jams and pollution.
“We are committed to contributing to a greener future and take responsibility for improving the lives of our customers and making the cities in which we operate more livable,” said Micromobility.com. In 2022, the company became the world's first micromobility company to go public on Nasdaq and is now publicly traded under the ticker “MCOM.”
