Coventry-based Maeving, the British electric motorbike manufacturer, has raised £8 million in new funding to expand production, accelerate overseas sales and develop new models aimed at commuters and women riders.
The company, founded in 2018 by university friends Seb Inglis-Jones and Will Stirrup, attracted backing from venture capital firms including Venrex, Future Planet Capital and Elbow Beach Capital, alongside angel investors such as John Ayton, co-founder of Links of London, and Simon Hill-Norton, founder of Sweaty Betty. It has also secured a £3 million working capital facility from HSBC UK.
Maeving exports around half of its bikes to markets such as France and Germany, with the US now its largest international market outside the UK. Sales to America have risen fivefold so far this year compared with 2024, despite disruption from President Donald Trump’s tariff-driven trade war.
“The biggest challenge for all manufacturers exporting to the US has been the uncertainty for consumers,” said Inglis-Jones. “If people are uncertain about their finances, they’re less likely to spend money on a discretionary product.”
Inspired by the popularity of simple e-bikes in China with removable batteries, the Maeving founders set out to combine practicality with British engineering and design at a higher-end price point. While Chinese models can cost just a few hundred pounds, Maeving bikes start at £4,995.
The company’s RM1 and RM1S models can travel up to 80 miles on a full charge, with batteries that recharge in under four hours for about 73p. Maeving estimates that powering an average UK commute of 11.4 miles a day costs just £4.20 a month in electricity.
Rather than chasing traditional motorbike enthusiasts, the brand is targeting new riders, particularly commuters and city dwellers seeking an alternative to congested public transport. At 140kg, Maeving bikes are lighter than most motorcycles, making them more accessible — particularly to women.
“Our customers are often people who’ve not ridden loads of bikes before and have no affiliation with petrol engines,” said Inglis-Jones. “They’re not expecting vibration or noise. They want something clean, simple and easy to use.”
Maeving employs 67 staff, including 50 in production at its Coventry site, which has the capacity to produce up to 11,000 bikes annually. The UK is no longer known for large-scale hardware manufacturing, Inglis-Jones said, “but motorcycle design is one of the things we are still revered for worldwide.”
The company’s head of product, Graeme Gilbert, previously worked on new product design at Triumph, another British motorcycle brand.
With its new funding, Maeving plans to double down on R&D, ramp up marketing spend — particularly in overseas markets — and cement its position as a new force in the electric mobility sector.
