2023 has been so far so good for the Sondors Motorcycle company. It announced a lip-smacking discount on its popular MetaCycle in March, followed by a surprise unveil of its rugged MetaBeast off-roader. But now, it appears things might be going downhill, as recent signs suggest serious peril for the bikemaker. In fact, it could even go bankrupt. Let’s dive in.
Our article uses key information sourced from the trusted EV website Electrek
What’s Going On At Sondors?
Well, the answer to that question is a lot and nothing. Both in their negative meaning. For starters, the Sondors headquarters is permanently closed (according to Google) which means there’s no corporate office as you read this. Unless the bikemaker is going strictly ‘work from home’, that’s not a good sign.
Similarly, if you visit the Sondors website and try to purchase the MetaCycle, you’ll get a ‘this store can’t accept payments right now’ error. This means the company’s merchant account is either no longer active or it simply has too much money that it can’t take in more. We’ll let you decide which one to pick.
To make matters worse, Electrek suggests most key personnel have already left (read abandoned) the company. There’s no public relations or marketing team, and even the company CEO Storm Sondors is nowhere on the scene. We also checked all social media portals and there have been no posts from the brand in months.
When Did It All Start?
While there’s no exact time and date, Sondors hasn’t had a clean past. The company launched back in 2015 and made headlines in no time with an insanely affordable $500 e-bike. Even though the company delivered, it did so after a massive delay and a drop in the previously promised performance numbers.
The same trend followed when it set foot in the electric motorcycle segment. The MetaCycle broke cover in ‘21 at a bargain price of $5,000–almost like a revolutionary product. And since no one wants to miss a good bargain, the motorcycle received plenty of pre-bookings (with a full payment upfront).
Again, the delivery timelines were pushed further and further. The deliveries did eventually start, but as you’d expect, with compromises. The specs were lower, the weight higher, and expensive materials had been trimmed down. In angst, many customers pulled out for refunds and the company’s influx of cash decreased.
Fast forward to 2023, Sondors has tried hard to rope in more money. For instance, the MetaBeast is nowhere near ready, yet pre-bookings are open. The MetaCycle sale served a similar purpose, reportedly luring in a thousand more orders. These efforts must’ve given the EV maker some time to stay afloat which is probably why some MetaCycles are still being delivered. But the future? It appears nothing but grim, considering the above-mentioned bits. Let’s hope we’re wrong, shall we?