Vectrix sales get their scoot on, more affordable model coming next year
It seems the sales of the Vectrix electric maxi-scooter have finally caught on fire. At the beginning of the year we were somewhat saddened to report that they had only sold a disappointing 123 of their innovative machines. Since then, the price has been chopped from just under $12,000 to a much more reasonable $8,795 for the 2007 model, and $9,395 for the slightly improved 2008 version. The skyrocketing price of gas may be playing a role as well, as people have been buying up scooters with a vengeance this year. The simplicity and ease of use that a Vectrix offers seems to be attractive to many newcomers to the scooter market. Of course, the company has also pursued a relentless marketing campaign to coincide with a strong effort to grow its distribution chain.
The result? Over 1,000 bikes sold and an exponential increase in dealerships. Since late spring they have gone from five retailers to 50 in the United States and are now listing another 75 dealers in other countries. They have a strong presence in Europe and can be found as far away as South Africa. They are even available in Andorra,
Gallery: Vectrix Electric Scooter
[Source: Boston.com / Business First
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Larry 9:22PM (8/12/2008)
If they would offer a model without all the plastic crapola on and drop the price to about $3000 I would buy 1 in a heart beat! I want it to look kinda like a Honda Ruckus...I can dream Can't I?
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Brent 10:40AM (8/13/2008)
I think I would rather get a Ninja 250 and deal with the 61mpg. :)
John 5:53PM (8/14/2008)
Larry, here is your ruckus style electric scooter...
http://electricmotorcycleforum.com/boards/index.php?topic=93.0
why not the LS2LS7? 11:47PM (8/12/2008)
The range is too low if you drive at reasonable speeds. It's down to half by 40mph or so.
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Peekoyle 1:20AM (8/13/2008)
I would buy one of these current models tomorrow if it was $5k.
The other thing to remember is that even thought the current batteries only provide limited range I'm sure that within a few yrs or so a cheaper better battery would be able to be swapped out of the same bike.
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Phil 3:32AM (8/13/2008)
The Wookie homeworld is Kashyyyk.
Vectrix sales struggle there due to the lush forest covering the planet.
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Domenick Yoney 9:01AM (8/13/2008)
Thanks for that. I added a link. I blame my confusion on an episode of South Park.
why not the LS2LS7? 11:24AM (8/13/2008)
It was Endor, before Lucas changed it. The final battle (episode 6) was supposed to be on the Wookie planet, with the Wookies battling but Lucas decided wookies were too large and scary (probably meaning not marketable enough), so he changed the Wookie planet to Kashyyk and changed the wookies on Endor into teddy bears.
Lucas is a total chump.
ug 5:24AM (8/13/2008)
Wake me when they wise up and switch to lithium.
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kert 4:02AM (8/13/2008)
Any minute now, Zap will announce a hovercraft EV for Kashyyyk that will easily negotiate the underbrush.
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Mr. E 10:00PM (8/13/2008)
I've been following the Vectrix since I first heard of it years ago. I'm glad to hear sales are picking up, but frankly here in SoCal it's *just* shy of being truly practical. To be safe and cover all bases, I'd want a range of of probably 100 miles at freeway speeds (say 75 MPH max). Not that I'd use the full battery/ultracapacitor charge most of the time, but getting stuck with a dead bike even once would be a complete hardship. It's not like I could even push it to the nearest gas station.
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kert 6:41AM (8/14/2008)
Here is a correction on Andorra:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3q_iqrvnC_4
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kert 6:43AM (8/14/2008)
A small update on where Andorra is
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3q_iqrvnC_4
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oobflyer 12:57AM (8/18/2008)
I picked up my Vectrix yesterday - I couldn't be happier. I've been following their progress for years - waiting for the opportunity to grab one. They started selling them close enough to me to finally buy one. The BMW dealer in San Rafael sells them now - it is about 100 miles away from where I live. Too far to ride it home, unfortunately - I had to haul it home in my gas-guzzling truck...
I'm one of the 80% of population that can make use of the Vectrix. I drive less than 30 miles a day. I plug it in at night - and fly by the gas stations during the day. :-)
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Lorenzo 8:23PM (9/08/2008)
Boost the range up to around 200 miles a charge and then it becomes a real contender. 70 miles just won't do, not in real life.
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Marc Gilbert 9:18PM (9/15/2008)
Interesting enough, Vectrix claims costs to manufacture one of their bikes is about $9k,(check out their disclosure online, since they are a public traded company), so I guess they don’t mind throwing away investors money.
50 some odd dealers in the U.S.A., sounds impressive, BUT how are sales for those dealers going? And most of the real quality dealers of the U.S.A. wouldn’t touch a Vectrix.
I agree that 525 lbs for a bike, $9,395 and a limited range, make this bike a not a very savvy investment. How about EVC? Check out these guys, they seem to be on the ball and when they hit the market should give some gas driven bikes a real challenge!
www.EVCUSA.com
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Andrew MG 6:13AM (9/29/2008)
Vectrix is dead, not because can't sell but because the USA and UK managers can't do it.
There is no management in Vectrix USA and UK, only guys that use the money of the investors to fly arround the world.
The next 2009 Vectrix bike will came from e-max (the German/Chinese producer) very low quality, low price, there is no more money in the company.
Vectrix Corporation will close Vectrix Europe next 15-30 October 2008 only because Vectrix UK can't do sales and there is the Stock Exchange of London and they need have some sales numbers.
Be sure that you have not a Vectrix in your hands, In June 2008 the bike could fire because very dangerous problem in the contactors of the battery.
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