GIVISIEZ, Switzerland (BRAIN)—Scott Bikes will enter the electric bike market next year through a partnership with industrial engineering giant Bosch.
Scott will introduce the E-Sub 20 and the E-Sportster at the Eurobike tradeshow this fall. Retail prices will start around €2,000.
Scott has been looking at the e-bike market for several years, but the company first wanted to focus on building up its urban and trekking line before expanding into electric motors, said Pascal Ducrot, vice president of Scott Sports. That segment now accounts for about 12 percent of annual sales.
Also, the e-bike market has traditionally been aimed at an older consumer, which doesn’t fit Scott’s image, Ducrot said.
Scott’s concept is to target a younger demographic. The bikes’ design use colors like white, green and yellow and incorporate fenders and a rear rack.
E-bikes will initially be sold in Europe only—primarily in the Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France and Italy markets—with potential expansion into Japan and the U.S.
Ducrot said that although the e-bike market is already crowded in Europe, he thinks there is plenty of room for growth for a product with more of an urban design and feel.
“The forecast is already big for this year,” Ducrot said.
Scott partnered with Bosch just as that company expanded into the e-mobility business through a development collaboration with Cannondale, which will also debut its e-bike at Eurobike. The Bosch system comes with drive unit, control unit, sensor concept, battery pack and control computer.
The Stuttgart, Germany-based Bosch has set up its e-bike headquarters in nearby Reutlingen.
—Nicole Formosa
nformosa@bicycleretailer.com
