Four years following having dedicated its production exclusively to export to European Union countries and the United States, Cloud Bike, a start-up whose factory, located in the free zone of Tangier, is tackling the national market with the first electric bike brand made in Morocco.
A turning point in the adventure of the young Moroccan start-up Cloud Bike which produces “Telus Bike”, the first electric bike “Made in Morocco”. Established in 2018 in the free zone of Tangier, its factory, which manufactured exclusively for export, intended for international distribution, in particular to countries of the European Union and the United States, is interested in its domestic market. For the past few months, Cloud Bike has been distributing its electrically assisted bicycles (VAE). On social networks, some Internet users are legitimately wondering why the brand’s growing presence in the streets of the economic capital.
Behind this Moroccan nugget, we find Adam Dadsi its general manager and Jaafar Mounir Benabbou as marketing and commercial director of the Telus Bikes brand. The first, following a degree obtained in Canada, worked for a long time with one of the largest manufacturers of bicycle components in the world. As for the second, he is Morocco innovation champion in 2020 and expert in electric mobility. With a capacity of 50,000 electric bicycles, the factory of the first manufacturer of electric bicycles in the Kingdom with its two assembly lines is capable of leaving its assembly workshop a hundred units a day. In addition to assembly, other workshops are dedicated to welding or painting. The start-up employs no less than 150 employees. “We produce high-quality electric bicycles with an integration rate of 65%,” emphasizes Jaafar Benabbou.
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The startup offers a dozen different models. The machine is foldable for easier storage and a safety lock on the Lithium battery, are part of the solutions developed by the Cloud Bike teams to ensure comfort and safety for their customers. The electric bikes of the Tangier start-up have a range of 50 to 100 km depending on the model. The battery is charged to 100% between 4 hours and 5 hours of time.
As for the price range of Telus Bike, it extends from 7600 to 11,875 DH. “Logically, these prices should meet the expectations of Moroccan customers in terms of price and quality, especially since the international price range is from 1,500 euros and can go up to 3,000 euros or even more depending on the brand and the options offered. In addition, we offer a guarantee, an following-sales service, not to mention the availability of parts”, specifies Benabbou who seems satisfied with the quality of the product and the services offered. Cloud Bike has been profitable since its first financial year and its turnover is growing year following year. “We also plan to export to sub-Saharan Africa where there is identified demand,” he says.
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Until last year, Moroccans bought their new or used electric bikes from abroad. The promoters of the first Moroccan brand of electric bicycles have bet on the proximity card for the distribution of their VAE. They sell them via Jumia, Electroplanet, EMOB Morocco and soon Decathlon Morocco. In the meantime, Telus Bikes intends to launch in the coming days on the Moroccan market a model of electric bike specially dedicated to B to B, in particular for delivery and courier services.
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