Major Electric Bicycle Manufacturer Declares Bankruptcy

Curtain Falls on Dutch Electric Bicycle Company WATT

The electric bicycle company WATT from the Netherlands has officially declared bankruptcy following a court ruling in Breda.
This outcome reflects ongoing challenges the company faced since the coronavirus crisis and aligns with a troubling trend among other manufacturers like QWIC and VanMoof.

WATT’s models cleverly combined retro design with cutting-edge electrification, initially receiving a positive response amid the surge in demand for electric mobility solutions.
However, the disruptions in global supply chains during the pandemic took a toll on the brand’s performance.

Why WATT Electric Bicycle Company Went Bankrupt

“WATT was unable to reverse the trend and I am very disappointed,” commented Frans Nomden, co-founder of the electric bike brand, upon the confirmation of bankruptcy.

He detailed, “The years immediately following the pandemic, which led to a global supply chain interruption, played a nasty trick on us both financially and organizationally.
Unfortunately, we could not overcome this issue.”

During the COVID crisis, the demand for electric bicycles escalated rapidly, yet many suppliers faced significant shortages of spare parts.
WATT struggled to bridge this gap.

The company focused on producing affordable city electric bicycles, featuring lightweight aluminum frames and compact integrated batteries.
WATT’s e-bikes were sold online and through bicycle shops across various European countries.
Three years ago, Bloomit Ventures invested €1.5 million in the company.

Earlier this year, WATT launched the WATT Dublin, an urban e-bike without gears and featuring a modern retro aesthetic.
However, this launch wasn’t enough to save the brand.

Although VanMoof and QWIC managed to restart production after their bankruptcies, it remains uncertain whether WATT will be able to achieve a similar comeback.