Swapfiets celebrates 10th anniversary: pioneering, sustainable growth and the rise of e-bikes
Amsterdam, 22 October 2024 – Swapfiets, the world’s first “bike as a service” pioneer, turns ten on 7 November. The bike subscription including maintenance was founded a decade ago by three student friends from Delft. What started with tinkering on 40 bikes has grown into a movement of more than 270,000 European city dwellers who prefer using a bike to owning one. While many start-ups do not survive their first few years, Swapfiets has become an unmistakable part of the cityscape after ten years. The B Corp-certified scale-up is on the path to profitability and is working hard on a 100% circular bike.
Pioneering and building liveable cities
Driven by its mission to make a positive contribution to liveability in cities, Swapfiets wants to bring worry-free cycling to all major cities and is committed to driving systemic change in the mobility industry. Today, the company is profitable in 75% of the cities in which it operates. Major cities such as Amsterdam and Copenhagen continue to grow strongly, with Amsterdam being the largest market with more than 65,000 members.
With members in 45 European cities and five different types of bikes, the company combines its sustainable ambitions with growth. Marc de Vries, CEO of Swapfiets since 2021, says: “I am proud of the lasting impression Swapfiets has made over the past ten years and of how we continue to build more liveable cities by offering people a worry-free cycling experience. In the coming years, we expect further improvement in both revenue and results, supported by the rapid rise of e-bikes.”
A revolution in the mobility industry
The iconic blue front tyre and unique bike subscription sparked a revolution in the mobility industry. In its first four years, Swapfiets expanded not only to sixteen cities in the Netherlands, but also to Belgium, Denmark and Germany. To enable sustainable growth and positive impact, family-owned company Pon invested in Swapfiets, and the company initially worked with Union on its own bikes.
Today, Swapfiets has been fully designing and producing its own bikes for years, with innovation and sustainability at the core. In 2019, Swapfiets added its first e-bike to the range and reached 100,000 active members. In the years that followed, growth continued, the e-bike range expanded, and Swapfiets gained a foothold in the United Kingdom, France, Spain and Austria. In 2022, the company achieved the renowned B Corp certification, putting Swapfiets in the highest gear to create positive social and societal impact.
Looking ahead
Swapfiets is taking an important step in developing the next generation of e-bikes, with pillars focused on safety, modularity and circularity. This is made visible through the prototype of the Swapfiets Infinity. With a strong focus on its own smart design, this concept gives Swapfiets the knowledge and technology to integrate fully circular parts into every type of Swapfiets.
The process is phased: step by step, current parts in existing bike models are being replaced by better circular alternatives. From bell to saddle and from tyre to pedal, all materials, designs and processes have been significantly optimised in recent years. Thanks to this progress, parts are gradually being replaced in existing models with sustainable and circular alternatives, with the aim of making the entire fleet future-proof.
In the innovation process, Swapfiets works with other pioneers, including a manufacturer that contributes ideas on complex components such as the battery. In addition, increasing congestion on bike paths means safety is playing an increasingly important role. Swapfiets is therefore focusing on improved visibility through 360-degree bike lighting, reflective paint and advanced braking technologies, such as a simplified braking system, for an even safer riding experience.
Ten years of Swapfiets: key facts
In Amsterdam, one in every 13 bikes is a Swapfiets.
The e-bike is on the rise: in total, more than 50,000 Swapfiets e-bikes are on the road, equal to 19% of the total fleet.
Behind the scenes, Swapfiets is working hard on a 100% circular bike. The Swapfiets Deluxe 7 is currently 88% circular. Swapfiets is also working towards climate-neutral operations.
To create a 100% circular bike, the company is innovating in reuse, repair and recycled or bio-based materials.
The average age of all Swapfiets members is 30, and the oldest member is 83.
Swapfiets has grown into a major employer, with more than 1,200 employees across 8 countries.
Each year, more than 600,000 repairs are carried out in stores, warehouses or at customers’ locations. This includes inflating tyres, fixing bike bells, as well as cleaning and quality checks after bikes are returned.
About Swapfiets
Swapfiets is the world’s first ‘bicycle as a service’ company. Founded 2014 in the Netherlands, the scale-up quickly developed being one of the leading micro mobility providers in Europe with 280.000 members in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, France, Spain, Austria and UK.
The concept of Swapfiets is quite simple: For a monthly subscription fee, Swapfiets members receive a fully functional bicycle or e-mobility solution for their own use. If needed, a repair service is available within 48 hours to repair or directly swap the two-wheeler at no additional cost.
