Brompton’s e-bike components are being repurposed for military drones, causing delays for customers
London: So, it turns out that a part from Brompton’s new e-bike is being used in drones for the UK military. Crazy, right? This has led to some serious delays for folks wanting to get their hands on the new £3,499 “G Line” e-bike. The supplier is too busy making drone parts for the Army.
These drones are reportedly being sent to Ukraine and are part of efforts to counter Russian drone activities. Will Butler-Adams, the CEO of Brompton, shared this surprising news during a chat on BBC Radio 4.
He explained that the part in question is a controller that helps the bike’s motor work better. Brompton designed it, but the actual production is done by another company. They were all set to launch the G Line, but had to push it back by two months because the controller manufacturer was swamped with military orders.
Butler-Adams mentioned that they were bumped down the list because the Ministry of Defence needed a lot of these drone parts. It’s a bit of a bummer for bike lovers waiting for their new rides.
Interestingly, London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, is a fan of Brompton bikes and has been spotted riding one to work during the pandemic. Meanwhile, Brompton has been facing some financial challenges, with profits taking a hit due to a drop in bike demand.
They reported profits of just £4,602 for the year ending last March, a steep fall from £10.7 million the previous year. Sales also dipped slightly, but they still managed to sell nearly 85,000 bikes, with a good chunk going overseas.
On top of that, their plans to move to a new factory in Kent have hit some snags. They’re aiming for a cool new headquarters that’s eco-friendly and designed to be a nature reserve, but it looks like that’s going to take a bit longer.
It’s a wild time for Brompton, balancing bike production and military contracts!
