Podbike: New CEO to Drive Frikar to Series Production

The Norwegian velomobile startup Podbike has a new CEO: In January, Åge Højmark took over from Anne-Lise Heggland, who stepped down as CEO. The company's co-founder is now expected to focus on finance and accounting, while the company prepares for a Europe-wide expansion, according to the firm. In the first six years of Podbike, the main focus was on solving design and technology issues.

"We are now on the verge of delivering the first vehicles. (April 2022) We currently have 3,400 pre-orders. Once these are fulfilled, we hope to increase our revenue from zero to eight million euros this year," the company explained.

With such growth, Heggland as CFO is to ensure that every euro is used sensibly in the development of the velomobile called Frikar. The new CEO Åge Højmark explained that, like most startups, the first phase had many challenges. However, from his perspective, much has been done correctly.

"The transition to more efficient and sustainable means of transport is essential if we are to achieve the UN's sustainability goals for 2030," Højmark stated. 

This personnel change within the company had been planned for a long time. The new CEO is to lead the transition from a "struggling startup to a new player in the environmentally friendly, individual mobility sector," according to the company. The new CEO announced some new developments for the coming weeks.

Gradual Improvements: Quieter Drive

Before the planned production begins in April, numerous improvements are to be incorporated into the product that VM was recently able to drive as a pre-production model in Munich. For example, regarding seat belts, a proposal for the Frikar based on cargo bikes has been submitted, hoping that the EU's standardization committee will accept this as part of a new, harmonious standard. There is no standardized method for testing seat belts for e-bikes. Above all, the reduction of noise levels in the cabin has been one of the most important pieces of feedback that came from test drives in Germany last year. Drivers are looking for a quieter driving experience, and there have been various suggestions. As a result, they are now working with a new partner who is an experienced supplier of noise reduction materials and aim to incorporate these improvements in time for the start of series production.