BMW Motorrad is investing in e-mobility start-up Venna, which specializes in high-performance electric motorcycles. The partnership opens new opportunities in the growing market for electric off-road motorcycles and gives BMW Motorrad access to new target groups.
Venna remains independent and agile, while benefiting from BMW Motorrad’s industrial and global expertise. With this investment, BMW Motorrad strengthens its commitment to future technologies and electric off-road mobility.
“The partnership combines the agility and innovative strength of a young technology company with BMW Motorrad’s development and industrialization expertise. It provides access to new target groups and technologies in the fast-growing electric off-road motorcycle segment, opening new market opportunities,” says the BMW Motorrad press release.
Younger riders increasingly view motorcycling as a sporty, performance-driven leisure activity,” says BMW Motorrad. “The investment brings together two companies that share a strong focus on innovation and riding dynamics.”
Quotes
“BMW Motorrad stands for innovation, performance and the courage to explore new paths. With Venna, we have found a partner who shares our passion for technical excellence and exceptional riding experiences. This partnership opens opportunities for us in a new segment and helps us inspire new target groups with the fascination of motorcycling,” says Markus Flasch, CEO of BMW Motorrad.
Marko Ukota, CEO of Venna, responded: “At Venna, our ambition is to build high-performance electric motorcycles across all riding categories that will unlock new levels and possibilities for our riders.”
“BMW Motorrad’s investment is a huge seal of approval for our passion and our technological approach. This partnership supercharges our ability to deliver advanced technology, reliable industrialization, and to do it fast,” he added.
Venna?
Formerly known as Flux Performance, this Slovenian company is now called Venna. It goes for unusual engineering choices. An 85 hp motor spinning at up to 14,500 rpm, a two-stage transmission, a virtual clutch, and a removable 7.92 kWh battery, that’s the Primo. It is ambitious, perhaps a little overcomplicated, and people questioned how well all that technology would work once the bike hit the dirt.
Flux originally described the Primo as a testbed prototype. We don’t yet know what Venna has been working on, or how much of the original Flux project will carry over.
Venna remains independent, but BMW Motorrad’s involvement could make a real difference in getting a bike into production. Building a prototype is one thing. Making it reliable, sorting out production and getting it ready for customers is a whole different challenge.
And Venna isn’t planning to stop at dirt bikes. CEO Marko Ukota says the company wants to build high-performance electric motorcycles across all riding categories. That’s a big ambition, and it’ll be interesting to see what comes of it.
And what’s in it for BMW? BMW’s electric two-wheelers, including the CE 02 and CE 04, are built for urban riding. A high-performance electric dirt bike brings a very different set of challenges. Power delivery, weight, cooling, and durability all come into play. Instead of starting from scratch, BMW has backed a company that’s already been working on those problems.
BMW hasn’t said yet how much it has invested or what share of Venna it owns. And while the deal points toward electric off-road, there’s no confirmed BMW-branded dirt bike yet, no production date, and no details on any specific models resulting from the partnership.
