With a view to increasing the quality and lifespan of their popular e-bikes, Swapfiets has entered into a special partnership with Italian tire supplier Vittoria. Swapfiets is the first company to have a subscription to Vittoria2Go; tires as a service. This means that Swapfiets will from now on rent the tires of its e-bikes from Vittoria. The Swapfiets e-bikes are fitted with Vittoria's premium tires, but Vittoria remains the owner and is responsible for the maintenance and recycling of the tires. This way the tires last longer and there is less waste. A new step by Swapfiets in their ambition to have fully circular bicycles on the road by 2025.
Tires are among the bicycle parts that require the most maintenance. Increasing their lifespan and puncture resistance, combined with continuing to look for ways to refurbish and reuse tires, is revolutionary for the bicycle industry and will significantly reduce the environmental impact. Tire supplier Vittoria and the Jumbo-Visma Team also recently helped Swapfiets by introducing the iconic blue front tires into the Tour de France.
“The success of Swapfiets proves that the 'pay for use' subscription is attractive for our members and also results in quality products that last longer. We are thrilled to see that the same model can be applied to parts of our bicycles and therefore also in our partnerships with suppliers. This is a shift from the mass procurement of parts to 'parts as a service'. We hope this groundbreaking idea will have an impact on the bicycle industry and contribute to our mission to offer fully circular bicycles by 2025."
“We are very excited about Swapfiets as the first customer of Vittoria2Go, providing them with premium tires as a service. Swapfiets knows better than anyone how important good tires are for cyclists and our subscription form ensures that they are truly circular”.
In the 'pay for use' business model, the supplier is responsible for the value of the product during its lifetime. The model encourages the design of products that are durable, maintenance-friendly and easy to repair. The advantage of this model is that it creates a feedback loop in which users share insights with the supplier, which in turn drives innovation. In addition, the product remains the property of the supplier and will eventually return to them for reuse or recycling. From August 2021, the Vittoria Adventure Tech tires can be found on the Swapfiets e-bikes. The tires are made of graphene reinforced compounds for increased grip and durability. The Vittoria housing provides optimum comfort, while the 3 millimeter anti-puncture layer provides resilience. The tires are of course available in black, but also in iconic Swapfiets blue for the front wheel.
About Vittoria:
Vittoria is the world's leading bicycle tire brand, known for its unique graphene reinforced compounds and advanced cotton and nylon casing. Vittoria's production takes place at its factories in Thailand and sells through its subsidiaries in Asia, Europe and North America. Based on its research & development capabilities, Vittoria develops bicycle tires for all types of road surfaces, off-road and urban. Vittoria Group is owned by its managers and investment fund Wise Equity Swap bike.
Photo above: Swapfiets image bank.
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