To paraphrase the great Three 6 Mafia, "It's hard out here for an electric motorcycle company." In the interim years, we've seen countless startups and OGs fall, and all for different reasons. Whether it's due to a lack of funding or lackluster sales, behind-the-scenes tomfoolery, or parasitic acquisition, the number of EV motorcycle gravestones has become numerous.
And as I've said in other stories, it's difficult to start a new company, let alone one that involves emerging technologies like electric powertrains.
One of the more recent deaths was that of Energica, which we reported on late last year. After failing to find new investment, as well as funding to pay off its creditors, the brand "resolved to enter into a bankruptcy judicial liquidation," in October. It's been a few months and now Energica, along with all of its assets, is set to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. I wouldn't get your hopes up for a revival, though.
According to the auction listing, which I translated from Italian, so apologies for the conjugation, but the sale is for "the Business Branch Energica Motor Company s.p.a., complex of assets, rights and business relationships subject to this competitive procedure are functional to the activity of study, development, design, production and marketing of motorcycles and high-performance electric motors, competition and not, better described in the Call for Tender dated 16.12.2024."
What that means is you get everything from Energica, including half and fully-built motorcycles, the machines the company owned that helped them build the motorcycles, parts, accessories, batteries, and more, as well as all the intellectual rights the company owned. Essentially, you get the whole company which, theoretically, you could use to restart production. I don't see many taking that route, but you could if you so choose.
What's wild to me is how much the starting bid is set for.
Now, you'd think an electric motorcycle company as successful—they actually built and sold a number of motorcycles before the fall—would be worth a pretty penny. But for the price of a single Bugatti Chiron, you could pick up your very own electric motorcycle company, as the Italian authorities are asking bidders to start at $3.5 million. A reserve is set for $4.6 million, however. Still, that's chump change for what you're getting.
If I were far wealthier, and I mean far, far, fare wealthier, I still wouldn't pick it up. I'd skive off into the woods, never to be heard or seen again. But for the person who wouldn't go full Ron Swanson, and is a lover of EV motorcycles and tech, and has some solid business accumen, this seems like a helluva deal.
Maybe Energica could be saved?
