The car manufacturer Porsche has joined forces with the Dutch company Ponooc Investment B.B. to establish two joint venture companies and gain a foothold in the e-bike sector.
Porsche acquired stakes in several companies in advance. In addition to the takeover of E-bike motor manufacturer Fazua The sports car manufacturer also secured a majority stake in the Croatian E-bike brand Greyp. Porsche increased its stake in Fazua from 20 to 100 per cent in June 2022. The Munich-based company is in the bike industry with its Evation drive as the founder of the so-called light e-bikes. Fazua is now part of Porsche eBike Performance GmbH.
Porsche intends to cover the following areas with the two new companies:
1. development of electric drive systems for two-wheelers
Fazua GmbH has become Porsche eBike Performance GmbH in Ottobrunn near Munich. The Group is making this clear: The new company will combine the strengths of the e-bike drive specialist with software and connectivity solutions from Greyp in Croatia. The expertise of the Porsche Group will also be added.
The Fazua team - which will receive the New Ride 60 e-bike drive presented was retained and expanded. The Fazua team currently comprises around 110 people internationally. The former CEO of Porsche Lifestyle GmbH & Co. KG, Jan Becker. E-bike drive systems for bicycles will continue to be developed in Ottobrunn. These include motors, batteries and software architecture. In addition to Fazua's compact drive systems for lightweight e-bikes, Porsche eBike Performance GmbH will also develop and produce particularly powerful e-bike drives under the Porsche brand name. These are for use on performance-orientated e-bikes and e-MTBs thought. In a few years' time, Porsche is therefore likely to become a competitor to Bosch, Shimano and Co. E-bike motors will be realised. In addition to the use of e-drives in bikes of various brands, the electric motors are also to be used in Porsche e-bikes. The aim is to achieve global sales from around 2025.
2. use of the systems in e-bikes
The second new company is P2 Bike GmbH powered by Porsche, based in Stuttgart. Moritz Failenschmidt, who also holds a similar position at Focus Bikes, will take over as Managing Director.
The products and technologies developed by Porsche eBike Performance GmbH are to be utilised in this company. The company's objective is to launch a new generation of Porsche e-bikes on the market by the middle of the decade.
Porsche eBike Sport and Porsche eBike Cross
The Porsche eBike Sport and eBike Cross have been exclusive electric bikes from Porsche since spring 2021. The partnership with Rotwild, which designs the current e-bike models for Porsche, remains unaffected by the joint venture activities.
Porsche also offers a platform for digital services relating to the cycling experience under the Cyklær brand. This project provides a glimpse of how much innovative power is contained in the new joint ventures: the multi-award-winning Cyklær Bike, designed with Storck, was developed together with Fazua and Greyp.
Polestar - the e-car subsidiary of Volvo - is also setting foot in the bike business with a limited edition Special edition in collaboration with a Swedish bike manufacturerAllebikes.
Sandra Schuberth
Editor
