FTN Motion showcased for 'nearly 100 per cent' locally built e-moped

Wednesday, 17 November 2021

FTN Motion has been showcased for building its electric moped almost entirely with New Zealand suppliers.

FTN Motion has been showcased by Buy NZ Made in a new video for its commitment to building its Streetdog e-moped almost entirely locally.

Parts for the bike are made by businesses in the Hutt Valley, Miramar and Hamilton, while machining and laser cutting are done onshore, and painting is carried out just down the road from FTN’s headquarters.

Having suppliers close by is handy for FTN, with co-founder Kendall Bristow saying that it allows for easy changes as well as faster lead times. It also meant FTN could continue working on the Streetdog during Covid-related lockdowns.

Buy NZ Made Executive Director Dane Ambler says seeing a Kiwi business making electric bikes in New Zealand, 30 years on from the manufacture of the revolutionary Britten V1000 in Christchurch is a significant achievement.

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FTN taps businesses in the Hutt Valley, Miramar and Hamilton for parts, machining and lasering done on-shore, and painting is carried out just down the road from FTN’s headquarters.

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A Streetdog is currently on display in Wellington Airport.

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“FTN Motion manufactures almost all of its components locally, supporting businesses across New Zealand and taking more control of its supply chains amid global disruption,” he said.

“We have visited FTN’s facility and were inspired by the innovation and sustainable vision. The Streetdog is a ground-breaking electric moped that is smooth to ride, silent and eye-catching.

“I hope FTN will inspire other Kiwi entrepreneurs in the automotive industry to think outside the box and realise there is no limit to what can be achieved here in Aotearoa”.

FTN Motion is currently working on the second production run of the Streetdog, which currently has a waitlist of around 250. Pricing is set at $9000, with more production runs due in the future. FTN also wants to expand operations overseas, already gathering a head of steam in Europe.

The bike itself uses a 3kW hub-mounted electric motor, a battery with enough capacity for 100km of real-world range and a bespoke tubular frame that somewhat resembles old British motorcycles with 30L of storage.

Wire-spoke wheels, motorcycle-spec brakes, a banana, cafe-racer-style seat, and a single round headlight all contribute to the gorgeous neo-retro design. Plus, you can ride it on a car licence.

“People want something they’re familiar with, that looks nice, and something they want to be seen driving… People should be able to buy the vehicle they want, that also happens to be electric,” co-founder Luke Sinclair told Stuff recently.