UBCO, a New Zealand designed and tested all-wheel-drive electric utility bike is now combining with US assembly and manufacturing expertise to serve the US market.
Jordan Small
Executive Director, NZUS Council
UBCO was established in 2015 to take to market an all-wheel-drive electric utility bike. New Zealand’s rugged terrain and diverse market segments has made it an ideal place to design, test, and perfect the EV platform. With integrated software, large datasets have been collected among New Zealand test users to finesse the design and pave the way for new products.
UBCO’s flagship products, the 2X2 Work Bike and 2X2 Adventure Bike, launched into the US market in 2017 and demand has grown strongly. A core part of the US market is the recreation and adventure segment, for which the 2X2 is ideally suited. This market includes a surge in interest in RV, or campervan, holidays. At just 50kgs without battery, the UBCO can be easily strapped on the back of a campervan for mobile adventuring.
At present, the bikes for the US market are assembled within the US. Shipping in separate parts and assembling in market is more efficient than shipping a final product. The 628% surge in shipping costs since March 2020 has led UBCO to consider onshoring more manufacturing in the US. The US is a cost-effective location to manufacture and factoring in shipping and logistics helps make the case.