NEW BEDFORD — Since Vectrix was reborn more than a year ago, the electric scooter company has expanded its product line and is looking toward a bright future.
Vectrix, whose U.S. headquarters is located in the New Bedford Business Park, filed for bankruptcy protection in 2009 and later relaunched under new ownership. The company's research and development team is based out of the business park, and some of its scooters are built on the site.
"We have now tripled our product line," said Jeff Simpson, Vectrix's global marketing manager. "We are not standing still. We are moving forward."
More than 30 people work out of the New Bedford facility. The company, which promotes its scooters as emissions-free and virtually noiseless, is touting VX-1 LI and Li+, the new generation of its flagship model, which are now powered by lithium energy systems. Those are being manufactured in New Bedford, with overflow manufacturing at its Wroclaw, Poland, factory.
Vectrix is also rolling out another model, VX-2, which is smaller and lower-speed than the others. The company contracts with a factory it doesn't own to build that model using Vectrix technology.
To promote the launch of the VX-2 in Europe, Vectrix will have a booth at an auto show in Amsterdam later this month, where it will give away one free VX-2 to a lucky attendee.
"We at Vectrix are very excited to launch our new electric VX-2 urban commuter model in Europe," said Brian Buccella, vice president of sales and marketing, in a news release announcing the giveaway.
It's also planning to come out with the VX-3, possibly this summer, a three-wheel model that will be built in New Bedford as well, Simpson said.
As the company celebrates the 15th anniversary of its founding, it is enjoying a resurgence after a difficult period.
After the former Vectrix Corp. filed for Chapter 11 protection in September 2009, the business reached a deal to sell most of its assets to New Vectrix LLC, which was sponsored by the New York-based GH Venture Partners LLC. EVB Technology (HK) Limited, an affiliate of Hong Kong's Gold Peak Industries (Holdings) Limited, also holds an interest in New Vectrix LLC, according to court records.
"We're extremely excited about the growth of this technology," Simpson said. "With gas prices moving up the way they are, the relevance of our technology, not only in the United States but literally on every continent, is growing every day."
Despite the company's global reach and ownership, Simpson says Vectrix has strong roots in New Bedford.
"The New Bedford history for Vectrix spans back to 1996 when the company was founded," he said.
The scooter manufacturer leases a 65,000-square-foot plant in the business park.
"The facility that we have moved into in the New Bedford Business Park is a world-class production facility, and it is also a world-class research and development facility," Simpson said.
The city facility plays a role in developing and building technology that is sold both domestically and internationally.
"What we're learning, what we have done, and what we are planning to do, the heart of it is out of New Bedford, the heart of it is out of New England, and the heart of it is out of America," Simpson said.
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