Swedish brand Vässla is bankrupt, but is expected to survive under new management. The company stood out in particular thanks to an original and convincing model.
In recent years, the Swedish company Vässla has stood out thanks to two machines available for rental: an electric balance bike, which was a kind of scooter with a seat, or a mini-bike without pedals, in all cases limited to 25 km/h as required by law. She also coexisted with a real electric bike called Vässla Pedal.
The Vässla Pedal was due to enter our market last year, and we even (secretly) took the handlebars of a prototype. Proof that it really existed! But we had already learned of a launch delay, and no news since last fall. What should we know? Potentially.
A big blow, but Vässla viable according to the boss
The bad news came yesterday. A February 14 which, despite itself, is a sign of rupture, the CEO of Vässla having confirmed the bankruptcy of the company. “Yesterday, we received a letter from the courts rejecting our extension of the restructuring of our company,” explained Rickard Bröms. “Despite being just days away from securing the funds needed to exit this restructuring, we can no longer continue”.
Placed under receivership, Vässla is not going to disappear. The boss explains: want to do the best to assist representatives in the transition to a new phase, under new management “. He wishes “a future success”for the manufacturer, who would therefore be“fully restructured and ready for a new chapter”.
Soon a return of the Vässla electric balance bike and finally the launch of the Pedal electric bike? Not so sure, because the brand would like to follow the same path as VanMoof. “Everything will therefore depend on the procedure, the buyers and a possibly very different product plan.», Explains the person concerned.
Since mid-2023, bankruptcies in the bicycle and electric bicycle sector have continued in Europe. The fault is a drop in demand, inflation and a phenomenon known as overstocking, which is very costly for businesses. The “catastrophic” figures from the equipment manufacturer Shimano clearly reflect this delicate situation, particularly for Europe.