Maeving secures £8 million investment to accelerate e motorbike production growth

Coventry-based electric motorbike manufacturer Maeving has attracted an £8 million investment as it seeks to ramp up domestic and international production. The company, founded by Seb Inglis-Jones and Will Stirrup in 2018, has drawn backing from well-known venture capital players such as Venrex, Future Planet Capital and Elbow Beach Capital. Angel investors include John Ayton of Links of London and Simon Hill-Norton of Sweaty Betty. Maeving has also secured a £3 million working capital facility through HSBC UK.

Funds will be directed towards research and development at Maeving’s Coventry headquarters, boosting its marketing efforts and supporting the launch of new models. Approximately half of Maeving’s bikes are exported, with markets including France, Germany and the United States. The US is now Maeving’s largest overseas market after the UK. Sales stateside have increased fivefold so far this year compared to 2024, despite ongoing tariff challenges connected to the American trade landscape. Co-founder Inglis-Jones observed that these trade frictions have created consumer uncertainty, leading to more caution around discretionary spending.

Inspired by the rise of utilitarian electric bikes in China—models that feature removable batteries charged at standard sockets—Maeving set out to marry this practicality with British engineering know-how and distinctive design. Whereas Chinese e-bikes can cost just a few hundred pounds, Maeving’s range begins at £4,995. The firm claims its batteries can be fully charged in under four hours at a cost of around 73p. Both the RM1 and RM1S models offer a range of up to 80 miles on a single charge. For most UK commuters, Maeving estimates battery charging costs will average about £4.20 per month.

Rather than pursuing established motorcycling enthusiasts, Maeving’s strategy is to draw in urban commuters and newcomers who are open to alternatives to conventional petrol bikes. At just 140 kilograms, Maeving’s motorcycles are lighter than typical models, a feature intended to appeal to female riders and those seeking greater manoeuvrability in city environments.

The Maeving team consists of 67 staff, including about 50 working in production at its Coventry plant. The facility has an annual manufacturing capacity of up to 11,000 bikes. Head of product Graeme Gilbert, formerly of Triumph Motorcycles, has played a pivotal role in ensuring the company’s designs maintain their British pedigree and innovative edge. Inglis-Jones notes that while the UK is not especially renowned for hardware manufacturing these days, motorcycle design remains an area in which British industry continues to excel internationally.