Vectrix closing shop, sending people home

I doubt it. They are introducing a new model at EICMA this year.
http://www.eicma.it/en/catalogo-espositori/lettera/v/

I was under the impression they've closed regardless of appearance booking or pending announcements. I've had word from an ex-employee and he confirmed they closed the doors on tues.

Maybe there will be a buy out ? Can anyone lend me a couple of mil ?

Unless there is some other plan in place involving bankrupcy and bizarre tax evasion or something in the bizarre corporate world we live in

Hi, IB,
If you pull-up your submission, using your proper name and PW, there will be a little EDIT box at the bottom. I never get anything right the first time, either!
Watch those nasty rummers! They drink too much!

IBScootn, are you referring to the USA factory, or the Poland one?

Oh dear, this is not good news - again! I'm putting my feelers out as we speak to try and find more info... There's no press release yet from GP, or rather I haven't found anything there.

Fingers crossed but I have to say the chances of Vectrix being saved only four years since their last bankruptcy are getting slimmer and slimmer.

Drew

Fingers crossed but I have to say the chances of Vectrix being saved only four years since their last bankruptcy are getting slimmer and slimmer.

I assume GP may be gambling here that Daimler/Smart will buy Vectrix to ensure their little Smart scooter gets done and produced as planned...

That is very very cunning

Risky... but cunning and i guess it very much depends on the point of production / commitment they are at.

Dear all,

That is indeed a rumor from an ex-employee. Some of the USA based staff were laid off but this has had no effect on any of our operations. We continue on all fronts for a very busy 2014 season.

Last week we held a distributor meeting at our HQ in New Bedford. 31 people from 24 countries were present (current and soon to be appointed distributors). Next week we will launch the all new VT-1 model at EICMA. As well as a brand new line of e-bikes and also updated battery systems for VX-1 and VX-2.

Best Regards,

Michael Fulton
Director of International Sales
Vectrix

I worked at Vectrix, and yes they closed the doors in both New Bedford as well as Poland. There is a small group of individuals that were left on the payroll to close up shop. No shows will be attended, but I believe that they will finish the build of four Daimler bikes and hopefully document everything. It would be nice to hear that Daimler has bought Vectrix NB and called everyone back, but that's probably a long shot.

This is not a rumor, although I like the idea of some rummer on ice, the doors did close and at least 30 people in NB and a handful of people in Poland were let go.

Hate to burst your inflated bubble there Mike, but your WRONG. There's a few individuals still there cleaning up things. I believe it's about 9 maybe 10. Nice to hear that the dog and pony show was still held, but you probably won't see any more. I guess they still need the distributors in place to dump all of the inventory left. The VX-2 out of Vmoto might be the only thing going but don't count on any new batteries or chargers for any other scooters.

This (French) article says it all.
The appalling Vectrix service (which all of us Vectrix owners have experienced) even causes dealers and importers to walk away from the brand!

http://translate.google.nl/translate?hl=nl&sl=fr&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.avem.fr%2Factualite-scooters-electriques-vectrix-italm...

No service = No dealers = No sales. Too bad that the Vectrix management did not get this...

I'm not going to enter into a "who knows what" here.

23-25th October 2013 I held a meeting with distributors from 24 countries present at our facility in New Bedford. This was the private introduction and training on the VT-1 and the new E-bikes before public launch in Milan next week. Yes, there are not so many people working in New Bedford now as the re-organisation takes place. No one in Poland factory has been released from employment and of course activity at all facilities will ramp up before production for the 2014 season begins. The new VT-1 is not due for mass production release until mid-2014.

The small inventory you refer to has already been sold to one distributor and not "dumped" on several. All distributors which attended the meeting placed new orders for our range of models to be produced next year.

Regards,

Michael

Italmotori did not walk away from the distribution agreement as stated in that article. Vectrix terminated their distribution agreement on 13th September 2013. Italmotori was not contractually responsible for the service of VX1 previously sold in France. Vectrix has direct contact with all customers who have alerted us or Italmotori to warranty cases.

New and highly professional distributors for Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands and France will soon be appointed.

On the subject of product road map. The VX-1 remains firmly in our product line, brand new marketing material for that model is being released to distributors today ahead of EICMA next week. The VX-3 has been pushed back into 2015 in order to ensure on time delivery of the VT-1 next year. Although the VX-3 attracted a lot of interest, there is nowhere near the same demand as for VT-1.

Michael,

First and foremost I would like to thank you for setting the record straight, especially here on the forum where it remains possible to be an 'anonymous' user. I applaud your frank approach; thank you.

I hope that other members of this forum will be mindful of the fact that you've taken the time to update us - and that you would be welcomed to do so again.

Having a key member of Vectrix present on the forum (even if intermittently) is immensely valuable to the Vectrix community; end-user, distributor or other interested party can all gain valuable information from such posts. It can even be an open-feedback system for Vectrix!

I hope the release at EICMA is a success!

Best wishes,

Drew

Thank you for the update and the free lip service.....

Remember folks, this is a SALESMAN. I'm sure we have all dealt with them and understand that they will say and do whatever it takes to take and retain your money and interest. This is not the first time that this has happened and Mikey will continue to spew his lies and bull. Vectrix will be done at the end of the year. Someone made a comment about Daimler taking over, I find highly unlikely but welcomed. So Mikey, were does GP and Daimler stand?? I've got the answer, but let's hear from you.

@Vectrixofficial:
And what´s your plan in Germany? The german Vectrix distributor closed half a year ago and there´s no other company that offers any support for the german vectrix-drivers...
From my dealer in Frankfurt I got the meassage that they won´t continue the support for Vectrix cause there´s no support from Poland...
My new Batterie that was built in last year in summer makes serious problems after commuting 6000km and I have no support nor any guarranties.
Not even once buying some GP-cells to do a self-service is possible...
I´m very angry about the vectrix-story. A good product but no support... In the moment I´m hoping that I can get some cells in the next months and my V will still work the next one or two years.
Another question about your new products introduced at the EICMA: Who should buy them in Germany when there´s no dealer left in Germany?
Thoughtful
Seiermann

In the UK I have found the support for my Vectrix from Emissions Free Solutions to be very good.

I've been commuting on my VX-1 for 2 years, and it's a great product but not reliable enough. I think the problem Vectrix faced is that they launched an underdeveloped product which overwhelmed their limited start-up support network.

For commercial success they need a great product, a reliable product and an adequate support network. They've already got a great product, they need to balance the reliability against the support network. Obviously it makes a lot more commercial sense to make a reliable product than to support an unreliable one.

I wish them all the success their great product deserves, but it won't happen if they haven't addressed reliability issues.

Vectrix should never have started the moped VX2 adventure but instead spend more attention to customer satisfaction around the globe and improving the VX1. Vectrix owners have complained about parts supply and service levels on this and other forums and never was it acted upon.
The VX1 had many improvement options: better batteries, better charger, ABS, styling updates, better lights, connectivity smartphone apps (like on a Zero), etc! It still is a great platform but unfortunately neglected by its owners.
Also leaving the VX1 unmodified for years might be a saving on R&D but after the BMW C Evolution hits the showrooms in March 2014 the VX1 will be obsolete.
So if I can predict this scenario I wouldn't be surprised that some guy at GP did too and killed the VX1.

Spending money on shipping a Superbike around the globe which never will be build is also a sign of mis management. Even more so now that other manufacturers have already leapfrogged the 2008 design and performance.

In summary: mismanagement and customer service is what killed Vectrix. No matter how hard anybody will try, Vectrix cannot be saved, the brand is ruined.

Seiermann - Unfortunately, your out of luck, sorry buddy! I don't see you getting any help out of Corporate Vectrix, their gone! If there is a resurrection of the VX-1, it will still have the same problems as before, both with part and support issues. Vectrix was a very small place trying to keep it's head above water as well as please the investors. The VX-2, put out by Vmoto, was and is a disaster and will continue to be one. Lots of design issues as well as parts and support problems. Followed in the steps of the VX-1.

At this point I suspect that the small group of engineers are trying desperately to put together a bike for Daimler with the hopes of an introduction in 2014. Daimler made an introduction of this bike and claimed the it would be ready for 2014. If it makes it, I worried that it will have the same fate as the VX-1........Lots of issues and NO SUPPORT!

Good Luck my friend.

Well said kingcharles . Astute and succint and almost certainly correct.

I think the BMW will be a great product but probably astronomically priced (especially in the tiny market of NZ) !
(oh hang on - i heard they were talking of leasing them ala GM EV1)

Anyhow - I still adore the VX1. Warts and all.

Yes, an imperfect product, but one that has allowed me to go gas free in my commute without having to pay for an electric car.

Can the moderator of the forum confirm the identity of Mr. Fulton? The account appears to be recent, and I'd like to know if it's legitimate before taking his word on the state of Vectrix/GP.

If I can throw in my 2p-worth into this... On the 24th Oct I had an email 'from a reliable source' confirming the New Bedford meeting of distributors... Whilst I agree with Jones that the meeting is not any sort of guarantee that V is still alive it certainly corroborates at least some of what Mr Fulton has said. That said, these are several items on the www now claiming V has closed. Even if the worst is true, it came back once before so there is no reason it won't again. We shall see.

Unfortunately, my pack is too far gone now and I have insufficient faith in V to be prepared to wait for a well-engineered Lithium upgrade at a price comparable to 'doing it myself'. So I have taken the plunge and ordered 42 Winston 40Ah cells from EV-Power and a Lithiumate Lite BMMS from Elithion. Now all I have to do is come up with a plan to cobble it all together. I will do a separate post on my version of Matt's (antiscab's) valiant and tireless efforts to improve the VX-1.

Incidentally, for the interest of EU buyers, I did try to order my cells from 3XE-Electric Cars in Poland who were a good 10% cheaper than EV-Power but having submitted my order, I heard nothing more from them. EV-Power, OTOH, have been very efficient at sending order confirmation and answering my subsequent emails. I also looked at EVTV's Amsterdam shop - wh.newelectric.nl - and although they have a very polished offering it is too all-inclusive for my needs - bolts, straps etc none of which I will need. MW

while I have never done business with EV Power EU personally,

Everyone of my European customers have bought from them and have been happy
good move

Perfectly normal, VT-1 is coming and Vx-1 is out!
I love my Vx-1 and i will continue because it still the best electric bike.
Bmw-c have somes pieces of vectrix, and now who want a good bike will buy BMW....to bad because Vx-1 is the best for best price.
Advice: don't sell your Vx-1....Soon you will understand why----

Hi everybody,

I got my V in 2008 after a testride in Berlin what was really impressing. So from then on I became infected with a virus - the V virus - like many of us. After the 6th season, nearly 24000 km and two blown batteries ( the actual 3rd is really well balanced by my local dealer ) I'm still impressed but extremly angry about the V company. Their customer policy is absolutely sickening, no support, no information. No wonder that there a lot of rumor on the forthcoming end. A nice vehicle that really makes fun, but I guess their credo is : sell and forget. But that's not the right way to have success in the market- neither today nor in future.

greetings
Peter

Just catching up with this ... very sad if true, but I shall harbour at least a little hope until we have something more definite either way.

Michael, on the assumption you're reading this: I wish you and your colleagues all the best with the new product and upgrades to the existing ones. I genuinely hope you can resurrect Vectrix bikes from their current status as 'project' bikes for tinkerers and EV enthusiasts. I bought mine knowing there was little-to-no backup or support from the manufacturer or dealer network (but plenty from the online community); I like a vehicular challenge, which is why I have one of Antiscab's kits and a box full of CALB 40Ah cells in the garage awaiting my attention. But, for the same reason, I told my brother-in-law recently not to go near a used VX-1 he was looking at. He's not at all mechanically minded and, while he was hugely attracted by the idea of going electric, for him the lack of support would make a VX-1 a very risky undertaking.

I'm intrigued by the suggestion in your posts of upgrades - battery and otherwise - to the VX-1. If you haven't already, can I implore you to talk to those in the user community who have put their own time and effort into improving the flaws in your otherwise remarkable product? I'm talking primarily, of course, of The Laird and Antiscab. If you were to adopt (or license?!) even some of what these two have come up with you'd go a long way towards making the VX-1 the bike it should always have been.

All this talk of the BMW C-Evolution ... it looks very nice but rather pricey. The VX-1, on the other hand, has presumably had its development costs written off (many times over?) - so with the aforementioned fixes to battery and software it could yet be a massively viable product at a competitive price. Every day I ride my Vectrix (less often recently, until I do my Li swap) people ask me about it. What is it, what's the range / top speed, where can I get one. They're always incredulous when I tell them it's six years old - the design is still fresh and futuristic. So I really hope you do have plans to stick with it, in addition to the new VT-1 (if it's actually happening). I fear you've a long way to go in rebuilding support, trust and the dealer network though ...

Cheers!

Having made an appointment to have my VX-1 serviced by Emissions Free Solutions, who commented...

"I was in the US last week for the Distributor Conference and the new products I saw and rode did not look to me like a business closing down. All my conversations with the CEO, Vice President and Sales Director were focused on the launch of the new VT-1, Electric pedal bikes and the product line-up for 2014 including a new family of Lithium batteries."

I feel happier now, knowing that GP haven't pulled the plug on Vectrix.

Many thanks for your support. The new battery pack for VX1 has had very good testing to date. We are looking at a Q1 2014 release for that. It will be used both for new VX-1 production, as an upgrade and also for any outstanding warranty claims on the previous packs. The cells are from a new supplier which have long since been qualified now for the VT-1 and our other "major project". The packs themselves will be made in house. The VT-1 features exchangeable battery packs. The VX-1 will not have exchangeable but we are planning some other upgrades to the VX-1 next year as a "refresh" and it will 100% stay in the product line.

The priority as a company of course now is for the VT-1 to hit start of production. Scheduled for global release summer 2014.

BMW has shown here at EICMA the full production sample (i.e. not prototype) of C Evolution. Price is €15750 incl. VAT. Release April 2014. Peak power of 35kW. Normal power 11kW. Weight 265kg. Top speed 120km/h. Range 100km in "urban conditions". Charging time 3-4 hours. Very interesting if you see the "naked shots" that the battery pack is itself almost all of the frame with just the suspension etc added to it.

The VT-1 is better and price will be sub- €10,000.