The MZ Emmely EL1, with lithium-ion batteries and a top speed of 25km/h
Via Solo Moto
According to a report on Solo Moto, the legendary Germany motorcycle brand – MZ – is on the comeback path and will start manufacturing new motorcycles by 2011.
Malaysian company Hong Leong had pulled the plug on MZ back in 2008, and German ex-racers Ralf Waldman and Martin Wimmer bought the worldwide rights (excluding Southeast Asia) to the MZ name in March this year, for a rumoured 4.5 million euros.
Now, in a recent press conference in Germany, MZ have announced that they have signed an agreement with electric vehicle specialists Clean Mobile AG, and they will start producing electric and hybrid-engined scooters in 2010.
MZ’s first electric scooter, the Emmely EL1, will be manufactured in China. Powered by a lithium-ion battery, the EL1 boasts of a top speed of 25km/h and will be sold in Germany as a moped. The EL1 will later be followed by EL2 and EL3 models, with top speeds of 45km/h and 80km/h respectively.
The MZ EL1 will go on sale in Germany by the end of this year, the EL2 will be available in 2010 and the EL3 is expected in 2011. We don’t know what MZ fans think of this, but we believe it’s a shame that a great name like MZ has been reduced to selling battery-powered Chinese-made scooters. Why did Ralf and Martin resurrect the MZ name if all they had to do was sell wimpy little electric scooters? Couldn’t they have just started a new company and established a new brand for that? We only hope they have something much better in store for MZ enthusiasts, which they will launch by 2011!
Malaysian company Hong Leong had pulled the plug on MZ back in 2008, and German ex-racers Ralf Waldman and Martin Wimmer bought the worldwide rights (excluding Southeast Asia) to the MZ name in March this year, for a rumoured 4.5 million euros.
Now, in a recent press conference in Germany, MZ have announced that they have signed an agreement with electric vehicle specialists Clean Mobile AG, and they will start producing electric and hybrid-engined scooters in 2010.
MZ’s first electric scooter, the Emmely EL1, will be manufactured in China. Powered by a lithium-ion battery, the EL1 boasts of a top speed of 25km/h and will be sold in Germany as a moped. The EL1 will later be followed by EL2 and EL3 models, with top speeds of 45km/h and 80km/h respectively.
The MZ EL1 will go on sale in Germany by the end of this year, the EL2 will be available in 2010 and the EL3 is expected in 2011. We don’t know what MZ fans think of this, but we believe it’s a shame that a great name like MZ has been reduced to selling battery-powered Chinese-made scooters. Why did Ralf and Martin resurrect the MZ name if all they had to do was sell wimpy little electric scooters? Couldn’t they have just started a new company and established a new brand for that? We only hope they have something much better in store for MZ enthusiasts, which they will launch by 2011!
From left: The MZ ES150 from the 1970s, and the more recent MZ 1000SF
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