Tuesday, 18 February 2025
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eMobility-focused Okawa Motor Technology secures €16 million investment

Despite the difficulties of 2023’s cycle market, serious investment cash continues to enter the bike industry, including a cool €16 million arriving with Okawa Motor Technology.

Okawa, founded 2020, is eMobility focused, producing drive units, controllers and associated accessories.

The business recently exhibited at Taipei Cycle Show and the Shanghai Cycle Show where it gleaned positive feedback from visitors, it said. The investment comes from an international investor group, which now holds 30% of the company shares. Okawa Motor Technology continues to be 60% owned by the founder, Dr Luca Du, and some of his employees. 5.5% is held by Yadea and the remaining 4.5% by private investors. Yadea believes itself to be the world’s largest manufacturer of electric two-wheeled vehicles, ranging from eScooters to eBikes and eMotorbikes.

Okawa company founder and CEO Dr Luca Du said: “We will soon be able to play an important role with renowned drive manufacturers”. The business is not relying on cost advantages arriving with Okawa via the immense purchasing power of Yadea, but largely on the technical expertise that he and his development colleagues have acquired and proven in the automotive and supplier industries.

March 2023 saw Okawa Motor Technology Europe B.V. move into a new office and warehouse in Nijkerk (pictured), just a few kilometres northeast of Amersfoort. The company brought in a new Sales Manager for the Benelux Markets last month. A current recruitment drive will see the European face of the business extend beyond the already recruited General Manager, Customer Service Manager and aforementioned Sales Manager. The position of Office Manager, Service Technicians, Logistics personnel and local country Sales people are soon to strengthen the Okawa Europe team.

Jack Brandsen, General Manager Europe of Okawa Motor Technology, said of the new Europe base “The central location and proximity to the major cities of Amersfoort and Utrecht are not only advantageous for logistical reasons. We also want to be attractive for future new employees, because we need more talented and motivated colleagues for the planned growth of our European Headquarters.”

Okawa’s HQ is in Jiangsu, in the People’s Republic of China and aspires to be a leading brand in offering subscription models for the eBike industry for commercial and consumer use. If you didn’t get out to those Asia shows there is a chance to see them in Europe at Eurobike, in Hall 8, Booth H20.

www.okawa.org