Artroniq, United E-Motor in e-bike venture
New Straits Times, 7 Nov '23
Artronic has partnered with Indonesia's electric motorcycle brand United E-Motor to transform urban mobility in Malaysia.
The partnership marks United E-Motor's entry into the Malaysian market, with both companies dedicated towards making eco-conscious commuting a reality. Artroniq chief financial executive Marcus Chin said they also hope to enhance the lives of Malaysians while preserving the environment.
"This partnership aligns perfectly with our commitment to providing sustainable and innovative mobility solutions to our customers," he added.
United E-Motor founder Henry Mulyadi said: "We are excited to join hands with Artroniq in bringing our eco-friendly and high-performance electric motorcycles to the discerning Malaysian audience."
Mulyadi said United E-Motor has been well received in Indonesia since it began operations in 2019 and saw Malaysia as well as Artroniq as a strategic partnership towards greater growth.
Working together, the companies eventually hope to expand their operations across the Southeast Asia region and penetrate markets beginning with Thailand and Singapore. It has not been discussed if this includes more localised partnerships or direct export regions.
During the launch which was marked by stunt shows and test-ride sessions, Marcus said the collaboration has less to do with investment figures (undisclosed) and more towards aiding Malaysians make the transition towards electric vehicle (EV) adoption and aid the government in eventually, gradually reducing the need for fuel subsidies.
The main draw of the event was the unveiling of two United E-Motor's electric motorcycle models - the TX3000 and TX1800.
The more powerful TX3000 is equipped with a 4.2 kW electric motor that produces 145 Nm of torque. It is powered by two 1.72 kWh removable lithium batteries - one located on its centre floor and the other one in the trunk area underneath the bike's seat. It has three riding modes and offers a top speed of 90 kph. It has a maximum range of 120 km per full charge and takes 4 hours of charging time to go from 0-80%.
The TX1800 features a Bosch-sourced 2 kW electric motor and is powered by a single 1.72 kWh battery. Performance is rated at 106 Nm of torque and a maximum speed of 75 km/h. It has a lower, 65 km max range per charge and takes around 1.5 hours of charging time to go from 0-80%.
Bluetooth connectivity, built-in speakers and FM radio are standard to the two. A mobile app U-Key holds numerous functions that can be used with the e-bikes. This includes remote ignition, trip history, trip planner, SOS button and bike locator.
The e-bikes are completely knocked down (CKD) and will be assembled at their plants in northern Penang and Johor. A battery swapping centre is also in the works. 30% of the bike parts will be localised.
No price has been given and Marcus has said it'll only be unveiled on December 24 during the announcement of the grand prce winner of an ongoing lucky draw contest. Future plans for the companies and their collaboration will also be announced then. Marcus said it plans to sell at least 2,000 units in the first year.