E-bike manufacturer VanMoof has been declared bankrupt by the Dutch judiciary. This comes after years of losses in bike sales, which were sustained through investor support. A court granted a moratorium in July, but it has since been withdrawn, leading to the insolvency of VanMoof Global Holding BV, VanMoof BV, and VanMoof Global Support BV. However, this does not affect the company’s subsidiaries in Germany, France, and Great Britain, which are not under insolvency proceedings.
VanMoof is currently exploring options to sell its assets to third-party companies under the supervision of two trustees. The goal is to continue its activities, although no further details have been released. As for current VanMoof bike owners, they can still use their bikes for now. However, there is concern about the potential shutdown of VanMoof servers, which would render the accompanying app useless. The app relies on Bluetooth keys from the servers for authentication. While there is no evidence of server shutdown yet, some features of the app, such as ride statistics and automatic unlocking, would not be accessible without it.
To mitigate this potential issue, users can extract Bluetooth keys for pairing and use alternative apps, such as the Bikey app released by VanMoof’s competitor Cowboy. Additionally, VanMoof e-bikes can be unlocked without the app using a three-digit code entered via a button on the handlebars.
In terms of repairs, any bike shop can handle standard repairs on VanMoof bikes, such as changing tires, brake pads, or replacing the chain. However, finding a shop that repairs all brands may require some effort. As for spare parts, it depends on the components needed. VanMoof uses proprietary components in newer models, such as handlebars with integrated stem and LED lights, which are only available from VanMoof. However, wear and tear parts like brakes and drive components can be replaced like any other bicycle.
Overall, VanMoof’s bankruptcy has raised concerns among owners, but the company is working to find solutions and continue its operations.
