FEATURE


The VanMoof store in Battersea, London


VanMoof was once described as ‘the Tesla of e-bikes,’ now it has filed for bankruptcy. Daniel Blackham looks at the timeline of events and a potential restart


VanMoof’s proprietary technology was popular but had reliability issues and caused service delays


FALLING SHORT W


e’re reinventing, redesigning, and reengineering every component of the bicycle,” said Taco Carlier, co-founder of VanMoof in September 2021.


“It’s never been done before and will change how a bike is made, sold, and serviced forever. It will help us get 10 million people on our bikes in the next five years and our investors share in our vision of a smarter and cleaner mobility future.”


Carlier’s comments accompanied an announcement that VanMoof had just received a $128 million investment. Add this to the more than $73 million in prior funding and a rapid 220% growth in global revenue, VanMoof looked set to be a stalwart in the micromobility market for many years to come. Fast forward to July 17, 2023 and the brand, which titled itself as “the most funded e-bike company in the world,” had been declared bankrupt by the Amsterdam District Court.


30 | September 2023


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