July 6, 2022 - (Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Que.) Quebec’s Velec Inc., designing and selling e-bikes since 2005, recently hosted a soiree for about 100 guests to celebrate the opening of its new head office at its custom-built commercial building in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, about one hour east of Montreal.
Following exponential growth that resulted in a drastic increase in sales, accelerated by the recent e-bike boom, the company’s Verdun office was no longer suitable. Founder, Michel Leblanc, a dynamic Quebec business leader, took his vision for Velec Inc. to the next level.
Following an investment of around $6 million, without provincial funding assistance, the concept of their new home took shape, as the 28,000 square foot facility was finished in 2021 and became operational at the beginning of 2022.
Like most bicycles in the North American market, Velec’s e-bikes are manufactured and assembled in China. While the company oversees the design, manufacturing and quality control process, Leblanc hopes to bring more of the manufacturing process, including frames and batteries, to Quebec.
Included in Leblanc’s plans are a future research and innovation center for electric bicycles, and with this in mind, the company has the possibility for an additional 17,000 square feet of space at their new head office.
With about fifteen full-time employees and a strong foothold in Quebec including about 300 dealers across Canada, Velec Inc. plans to expand their footprint in other provinces, and into the USA as well.
All nine models in their line-up are urban e-bikes with retail prices ranging from $2,000 to just over $4,000. The Citi Family series includes three models with a sleek, ultra-light design, integrated battery and a discrete rear wheel motor; the A2 Family features more entry level, step-thru models, with powerful rear-hub motors as well; the R48 Family offers two up-scale, step-through models with more powerful mid-drive 450W motors; the Folding Bikes include two stylish models with 350W or 500W motor options.
“After 17 years it’s a dream come true,“ said Leblanc, who’s background is in IT and telecommunications. “The popularity of the electric bicycle as a leisure activity and as a means of transportation is expanding in Quebec and around the world and we’re excited to be part of this great cycling adventure.”
To date, Velec Inc. claims over 100,000 e-bikes have been sold, and as sales continue to rise each year the company’s move is timely as the popularity of e-bikes shows no signs of slowing down.
The new building includes a presentation and showroom, offices for administration, sales and marketing, as well as a workshop for technical support and maintenance and repairs, distribution and warehouse space along with a recreational and fitness room for employees.
The future looks bright for this innovative Quebec-based Canadian entrepreneurial company that sees the massive $35 billion global e-bike market as an opportunity to be explored for years to come.
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