Bicycle manufacturer VanMoof is taken over by Lavoie, a British manufacturer of electric scooters.
After almost a month and a half of searching for a suitable buyer, the Amsterdam, bankrupt bicycle brand VanMoof has finally been taken over by the British e-step brand Lavoie. This news has been confirmed by the trustees and the ANP news agency. The acquisition marks the end of a turbulent period for VanMoof and its founders, the Taco brothers and Ties Carlier.
Lavoie, which specializes in folding electric scooters, is a subsidiary of McLaren Applied, an independent business from sports car manufacturer McLaren. It is also involved in developing parts for Formula 1 cars. Earlier signals already indicated that Lavoie and VanMoof were discussing a possible takeover. While financial details of the deal have not been released, final signatures are expected to be made next Monday.
This acquisition comes after VanMoof's bankruptcy in July, partly caused by technical problems with their bicycles that led to high costs. The company, which has not turned a profit since its inception in 2009, faced stopped deliveries and repairs, much to the frustration of current owners and customers who had already paid for their bikes.
Several parties expressed interest in taking over the bankrupt bicycle brand, but in the end the winner is the British Lavoie, which sells scooters with a price tag of around 2.000 euros. On Monday there will be more clarity about the future plans for current VanMoof owners and the way the company deals with customers affected by the bankruptcy, the trustees said.
It's an important moment, especially given previous concerns about VanMoof's financial stability and management by the Carlier brothers. With the arrival of Lavoie, a new chapter may begin for the brand and its customers.
