On paper, VanMoof is in with a good shot.
Or, at the very least, the mosttalked aboutcompany in the space whether thats good or bad.
40% off TNW Conference!
Whats fresh with the VanMoof S5 and A5?
There are a few other updates of note.
One of the biggest is the removal of the Matrix display.
All is not lost though!
VanMoof replaced the Matrix Display with a series of handlebar-based LEDs it refers to as the Halo Ring.
A note though, the exact layout could well change before the S5 and A5 hit the streets.
The color scheme is also new, with an off-white shade being introduced.
Both these additions are designed to support the updated VanMoof app, which I saw, but didnt test.
In terms of the ride itself, VanMoof has upgraded the motor and claims to have improved overall experience.
In other words, push harder, and youll go faster.
It also revealed that theres a fresh long-range battery in the ebike.
The S5 has a 487Wh capacity, while the A4 has 463Wh.
The former has a range of 60-150km, while the latter clocks in at 55-140km.
Price-wise, the ebikes will retail for $2,998 (thats 2,298 or 2,498).
VanMoof stated its highly unlikely this will drop any time soon.
Currently, the company claims to have around 200,000 riders across the world.
The target spoken about at the event was reaching a million.
Unsurprisingly, the company is ramping up production to meet this goal.
To put it another way, how they have been tweaked to appeal to a mass global audience.
A huge part of this is the introduction of the stepthrough frame, the A5.
Not everyone is as tall as the Dutch, after all.
One marketing-heavy explanation VanMoof gave for the missed number is that the new bike is a revolutionary overhaul.
The removal of the aforementioned Matrix Display also ties into this plan to target the broadest possible audience.
Secondly, understanding what the animations mean was often confusing.
The idea is giving riders information that can be easily understood without looking at a manual.
it didnt take me long to grasp their meaning.
This means passing any proper judgment or indeed taking these thoughts as gospel isnt wise.
Well get a review unit in the coming month or two, so stay tuned for that.
We good?Great.So lets talk about first impressions.
The gear changing also seems much improved.
But will VanMoof achieve its goals of ebike dominance?
Despite this, the company is in an enviable position.
Its recognizable and holds a strong market position but its important to note its nowhere near dominating yet.
One of the big elements impacting this is how the company expands globally.
Currently, VanMoof builds bikes in its own factories with predominantly customized parts.
This is excellent for creating a quality bike, but it makes repair and maintenance far tougher.
VanMoof is aware of this and has launchedin over 50 locations across the globe.
Although there are plans to roll this out worldwide, it currently only operates in Amsterdam.
The question is whether VanMoof is doing this quickly enough.
In my mind, the company is now playing a subtle balancing act.
Theres little doubt the S5 and A5 are top-notch machines.
(Update, April 6: We included information about the motor and battery capacity of the ebikes).
