Van Moof’s bikes, favorite runabouts of city creatives, are apparently running out of air. After the Dutch e-bike manufacturer stopped selling bikes and accessories on its website two weeks ago, the company is now apparently having major payment difficulties.
This Wednesday, Van Moof announced that the district court in Amsterdam had granted the company a moratorium on payments and had installed two administrators there who are now apparently supposed to restructure. Two of Van Moof’s subcontractors had also applied to the court for a suspension of payment. There will now be a two-month “cooling-down” period during which the administrators will decide on further steps together with Van Moof’s management.
At the end of last year, Van Moof was probably on the verge of collapse. It is said in the industry that the company was only saved thanks to a successful round of financing. In the spring, Van Moof announced two new bike models, but they impress less with technical innovations than with creative colors. Probably also because of the difficult market situation, Van Moof was not able to book the hoped-for success. According to the two-wheeler industry association, sales figures for e-bikes fell far short of expectations in the first five months of 2023.
The models are recognizable by their design.
(Photo: Van Moof)
After Van Moof founders Ties and Taco Carlier rode a wave of success through the inner cities of the world, winning numerous design awards and raking in millions in investment money, that’s probably the end of it for the time being. As Van Moof announced, all of the brand’s stores have been temporarily closed. These highly styled, Apple Store-like branded locations can be found in many major cities around the world, from Amsterdam to New York. Customers can only have their bikes repaired there and at selected service partners; this is usually not possible in normal bike shops. Van Moof designs all the individual parts of its bikes itself, here too the Dutch are similar to the iPhone creators from California. Experts doubt that this one-stop shop concept will work in the bicycle market.
What the financial fiasco at Van Moof means for customers is still unclear. The company announced that it would continue to provide services and would contact customers individually regarding outstanding deliveries and repairs.