Vmoto to be the Tesla of electric motorcycles?

Words and images courtesy Vmoto

Charles Chen is the Ceo of Vmoto Limited and his doesn’t mince words when it comes to discussing his company’s future ambition;

“We need to be the Tesla of the electric two-wheeler world,” he states. “That means, innovation, sustainability and a global effort.”

Vmoto stands out for its ability to anticipate the market, outperforming not only Asian competitors but also traditional giants.

Unlike established industries with heavy supply chains and linked to combustion vehicles, Vmoto is inspired by the Tesla model; a bold vision, innovative technologies, and comprehensive solutions for sustainable mobility.

Do you see the current economic and ecologocial climate as a decisive moment for the future of electric mobility?

I believe the time is ripe: users understand the benefits of EVs, but are hesitant. Our mission is to overcome these barriers with integrated vehicle solutions, fast charging and management software. In the coming year, Vmoto will launch projects in Europe and beyond, working with local partners to build infrastructure and support communities. Already five to ten countries will adopt our solution through strategic agreements.

How does electric mobility you provide have a positive impact on people?

Vmoto not only transforms mobility, but also improves the lives of riders. In Indonesia, riders save up to US $ 500 a year by using our scooters, increasing their earnings and achieving significant personal milestones. Stories like these are proof of our social responsibility and the strength of our business model.

What’s the future of Vmoto in numbers?

In the next 3-5 years, we aim to reach at least 20 countries with our complete ecosystem, supporting riders with better technologies and opportunities. Because sustainable mobility is only the first step to a better world.

Tell is about the sustainability of electric mobility.

With a clear vision and unparalleled determination, Vmoto is redefining the electric mobility industry by combining innovation, sustainability and social impact. Our mission is not just to compete, but to inspire global change. Together with our partners and customers, we are building a future where sustainable mobility is not just an option, but the norm.

You were at EICMA this year – what was your big message there?

We were there to launch EMS – Electric Mobility Solution, which, unlike most launches, was not just a bike or a battery, but a fully integrated system that is basically a response to the challenges of electric mobility. It’s a system that makes life easier and more cost-effective for electric bike users and the businesses that sell or rent these machines.

What was your perceptions of this year’s EICMA?

When you are at the exhibition, you see many new brands coming in, with lots of them having electric two-wheeler models and many from China. I can tell you honestly that 90% of them are doing something we did five or six years ago.

Where is Vmoto situated within this market place?

So now we are actually in version 4.0 of the electric market, if we realise that if 1.0 or 2.0 was having a vehicle for sale, we now need not only a product, not only a technology, you need a full solution. This includes the products, the technology, the charging infrastructure, the charging solution, and the right business model. We have the experience and history in this segment to create a complete solution and make it sophisticated. The goal, or our new mission, is global electrification.

What is your own background?

My first startup company is the exclusive distributor of CF Moto for all international markets before it moved to KTM Group, and before that, I was an engineer originally and worked for Honda China for eight years including in Honda overseas department. I still have a lot of Japanese Honda colleagues from different departments because I was in the factory. I worked for the R&D department, then the export department, the import supply side, and then worked overseas. I think these experiences have helped with both the technical side of working through the solution and also for having a ‘world view’.

So, how would you create a Tesla type business model?

If you look at Tesla at the beginning, nobody believed Elon (MKusk). But he did it his own way, believed in bringing good products to customers, aggressively into country by country, with his electric car, his supercharger, and his other technology software. That’s something we hope to do, with full commitment, attack each problem aggressively with our full solution. So yes, the Tesla way. Like Elon, he’s a disruptor.

And why ‘now’?

That’s a very hard question, to be honest. I think it is the right time, the right year, to roll out the new solution because the market is more mature, and the consumers have already experienced the earlier versions and have enough understanding of the EV in terms of the advantages. What’s the disadvantage? People are still hesitant to adopt, and this is why a full solution is needed to encourage them. Europe has been the leader since 2011 and has done a lot of good things to promote EV technology and vehicles, but unfortunately, since COVID-19, it has slowed down.

What is your immediate plan?

Next year, we are putting all of these projects on the ground with our bikes, our charging solutions, fast charging, and software management system, working with our partners, in several countries simultaneously; so in Europe, there is already a stronger customer base, but in others they need more help, so country by country we need to support their local infrastructure and business. We already have five to ten countries that are going to adopt our solution with some funding from us, so we have signed joint ventures.

And the next three to five years?

From the point of view of the electrification solution, I’m looking to at least 20 countries. Full of Vmoto electric vehicles and full Ecosystem solution. That’s our target, that’s our plan. We are helping them first with our products and then with our full solution, and simultaneously, we are also investing in them because their riders are very important to our business.

How are riders part of the ‘plan’?

They need the vehicle for living. So they should be looked after well, in a proper way. We cannot do that by ourselves directly, but working with our local partners like Zenion in the UK, Vanmo in Brazil, Modenas in Malaysia, Nova Moto in South Africa and Skipper Run in Thailand.

So, this is a very important part of our targeted users, but we need to make them more profit from their work. For example, what we did in Indonesia with our partner called Charged. We analysed that by using Vmoto scooters, riders can save 400 to 500 USD per annum. So, they are very happy! Adam Cui, our COO, visited Brazil a couple of months ago. He met one of Vammo’s riders (our partner in Brazil). So, the rider goes to shake hands with Adam and says “Really, thank you very much. Because you know, after using your scooter, I now make more money. Now I’m married, and next year I’m going to have a baby.” OK, it is one little story but it shows we can bring more benefits for them. That’s very important, and also shows the responsibility of doing this sort of business.

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