Utica, New York, is about to grow to be a brand new hub for electrical bikes, or no less than that’s the plan, if eBliss International has a say in it.
The corporate simply introduced plans to start manufacturing its e-bikes at Harbor Level later this 12 months. Led by longtime trade veteran Invoice Klehm, eBliss International will make investments over $4 million into a brand new facility and expects to start manufacturing within the third quarter of 2025.
In accordance with WKTV in Utica, eBliss International isn’t simply one other newcomer to the booming e-bike market. Klehm, the corporate’s chairman and CEO, brings greater than 4 a long time of expertise in automotive and bicycle manufacturing. He additionally claims to have helped launch Europe’s e-bike market, giving eBliss a robust pedigree because it ramps up US operations.
“What we’re seeing within the U.S. is a wild surge in e-bikes,” stated Klehm. “Virtually 2.5 million have been bought final 12 months, up from simply 60,000 in 2016. We’re speaking concerning the fastest-growing piece of transportation tools on the planet, and undoubtedly in the USA.”
Whereas these gross sales figures sound a bit optimistic in comparison with most trade consultants who put the height of the US e-bike market at round 1 to 1.5 million annual gross sales, there’s little question that the market is rising.
The e-bike model eBliss selected Utica, New York as the house for its new manufacturing facility because of a mixture of neighborhood assist, infrastructure, and logistics. “The individuals are superb,” Klehm stated. “Utica has an exceptional neighborhood, an important work ethic, and a very good instructional system. Logistically, it’s completely situated within the Northeast between Syracuse and Albany, with nice rail entry.”
The brand new facility will ultimately make use of round 40 individuals and is anticipated to construct 15,000 bikes in its first 12 months. The positioning will embody not simply meeting traces but in addition engineering, gross sales, advertising, and distribution groups. The mission is receiving a $500,000 increase from Empire State Improvement via job creation tax credit.
Utica Mayor Mike Galime praised the corporate’s arrival and the momentum behind e-bikes on the whole. “This firm is extraordinarily desirous about progress. They’re on the cusp of an trade that’s beginning to proliferate,” he stated.
