French E-Bike Startup Angell Faces Bankruptcy: What You Need to Know

In a shocking turn of events, Angell, a French startup known for its innovative smart electric bikes, has announced its decision to declare insolvency. This news comes as a significant setback for the company, which aimed to revolutionize urban transportation with its advanced electric bicycle technology.

Angell’s Journey and Recent Challenges

Founded in 2019, Angell set out to create a unique electric bike that integrated numerous smart features. The original model included:

• A small color touchscreen on the handlebar for displaying relevant information
• Turn-by-turn navigation capabilities
• Bluetooth connectivity for seamless smartphone integration

Despite its innovative design and features such as an integrated lock, alarm system, GPS chip, and cellular modem, Angell faced tough competition from other European smart bike manufacturers like Cowboy and VanMoof. Notably, VanMoof also declared bankruptcy in the Netherlands in 2023, with efforts underway for a brand relaunch.

Manufacturing Issues Lead to Insolvency

Unfortunately, Angell struggled with reliability issues, particularly with its first-generation bike. In a recent email to customers, the company acknowledged:

• The fragility of the bike’s frame posed a significant risk of breakage.
• The manufacturing defects were linked to the welding process used in frame construction.

Angell does not produce its bikes in-house; instead, it collaborates with SEB, a prominent French industrial firm, and Kickmaker, a design company, for manufacturing. Following the revelation of these design flaws, Angell attempted to shift some responsibility onto these partners, but ultimately, the company is accountable for the bikes sold.

The Consequences for Angell Bike Owners

As the startup moves forward with its insolvency process, the ramifications for Angell bike owners are severe. The company now faces tough decisions regarding:

• Recalling up to 7,000 bikes
• Providing reimbursements to affected customers

With financial constraints, Angell has opted for insolvency rather than pursuing these costly options. This situation leaves many customers with bikes that are no longer safe to ride, and current owners may soon face potential service disruptions as Angell considers shutting down its servers, which could impact features like electric assistance and smart locks.

Looking Ahead

As Angell navigates its insolvency, it remains to be seen how the responsibilities for manufacturing defects will be resolved among Angell, SEB, and Kickmaker. For now, electric bike enthusiasts and current owners are left hoping for a resolution that prioritizes safety and accountability in the smart bike industry.

For more information about electric bikes and the latest industry updates, visit Electric Bike.