Carver Europe files for bankruptcy, technology may live on
Carver One - Click above for high-res image gallery
We've been following the story of the Carver One leaning three-wheeler for the last few years, and we've often thought the vehicle was a great idea just waiting to catch on. Unfortunately, the company may never build another vehicle of its own as it's just gone bankrupt after a major deal reportedly fell through in May.
The problem – as often is the case when innovative technology first hits the market – was the Carver's high price. According to Carver Europe director Willem Verheul:
Too few people wanted to buy the ingenious sports car at 50,000 euros. We had [planned for] about 300 vehicles sold per year, but in two years, only 200 were purchased.If there's any ray of sunshine to the bad news, it's that the Advanced Technology Licensing Company is still in business, so there's still hope that future vehicles will come to market using Carver's innovative leaning three-wheel technology. No word on how or if this affects Persu Mobility (formerly Venture Vehicles).
Gallery: Carver One
[Source: The Kneeslider]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
MikeInNC 8:22AM (6/30/2009)
I absolutely love this thing but they are right in that $50k was far too much for many to swallow. Maybe if they could outsource the production and materials to Chinese manufacturing they could get the price way down and still monitor quality and keep rolling. It's better than folding I suppose.
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Matt Peckham 10:24AM (6/30/2009)
50000 Euros is ludicrous. They should be able to make this for 20000 DOLLARS.
It's a modified motorcycle. Yes it's got some custom bits, but in mass production, this would not seem a tricky and expensive vehicle to make. I think green greed got in the way of bringing a unique product to market.
Throwback 10:59AM (6/30/2009)
BMW is toying with this tech. Slap a BMW propeller on it and sell it for 30,000 euros.
M-Hansen 12:50PM (6/30/2009)
Oh No! Last week I saw one of those Carvers. They are bigger than I thought.
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Snoopy 4:09PM (6/30/2009)
If they wanted it to get a larger market, they should have tried to get it into mass production. I don't understand why they stuck to building them by hand.
As far as the Persu goes, I wouldn't hold my breath. I gave up on it as soon as they decided to drop the serial hybrid platform, but the elimination of the user forums and the branding switch to Persu just made things worse.
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steve 5:40AM (7/20/2009)
I would be interest in buying carver and building the thing here in Texas, How can i find information on who to talk to. Thanks.
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DC Lindell 4:10PM (7/21/2009)
Just go to ; www.flytheroadclub.com
There will be all sorts of contacts and conversations about this in their forums.
Last word there is that the Persu IS GOING TO HAPPEN . Story is they went off the grid for "LEGAL" reasons but are well on the path to mass producing the PersuHybrid
Geoff Daly 8:05PM (7/22/2009)
Steve, If you are interested, please email me and I can share some details on the Carver One. Reply via Autoblog. Geoff.
steve 6:10AM (7/23/2009)
please send me the details. Thanks.
Tim Hodgetts 5:45AM (8/20/2009)
Hi Steve,
I saw your comments about wishing to purchase Carver and if I can help at all, I would like to.
You can mail me at timhodgetts@yahoo.com
Best regards,
Tim Hodgetts
Tim Hodgetts 3:41PM (8/18/2009)
I worked for Carver back in 2003. At the time, it seemed that the price was very high and that has never changed.
When I found an investment banker willing to put 10's of millions into helping to build a factory and then mass produce the Carver or a derivative for a price that would put it in the reach of tens of millions, rather than several hundred, it was rejected in favour of the hand built business model.
Despite any problems, this was and is still, a groundbreaking design that deserves to be on the roads of many cities and countries throughout the world. But the only way it was going to fulfill its destiny was go down the mass production road. If anyone can find a way to resurrect the vehicle, then there is Europe and Asia to consider rather than just the US market.
Good luck to anyone that wants to try. I would love to help you if I can.
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