Solex (more precisely VeloSolex), is an iconic brand that people under 20 cannot know. Except that I am over fifty, and this post-war moped – 8 million sold in 75 countries from 1946 to 1980 – which was not quite a moped remains engraved in my early memory. teenager.
The one inherited from my maternal grandfather was black (its original color) and served me more to impress my friends than to transport me to college. In Versailles, this Tuesday morning, a fleet of models with much more refined and chic curves arrived at the foot of the famous castle of Louis XIV. the weight is high (23 kg, a bit like a Vélib’) but the whole thing remains very manageable.
Entrepreneur Grégory Trébaol, CEO of Rebirth who bought the Solex brand in 2013 to relaunch it, transformed his flagship model from the 1960s into a high-end electric bike. Its latest limited collection stands out for the presence of coats of arms or the name of Versailles on its steel frame and its six colors, including royal blue, of course.
His brand has already brought in 207,000 euros for the city
The final stage of the partnership established with the royal city which, to further its international influence, registered its brand last spring. “We don’t marry everyone,” smiles the mayor (DVD) François de Mazières, whose sale of licenses to leading brands such as Harcour, Agnès B or Trudon (cigar of the kings of France), has already brought in 207 000 euros to his municipality.
With its E-Solex, which promises 120 km of autonomy in cool mode, the manager who also bought Matra wants to “target the Asian market, fond of the royal city. To be visible internationally, it’s interesting to have the image of Versailles, it’s the French lifestyle. These are collector’s products, which will have value. »
This Tuesday, all you have to do is cross the esplanade of the Palace of Versailles on the handlebars of the new E-Solex to assess its attractiveness. “How much is it?” Where are they on sale? Can we rent them? » Tourists, French and foreign alike, bombard you with questions…
“And have you thought about launching a cargo range? » asks François de Mazières in reference to the many families using it in the most cycle-friendly city in Île-de-France according to the federation of bicycle users (FUB). “We can think about it because this collection is not intended to remain fixed over time,” replies Grégory Trébaol, who is launching the marketing of his first models in the Vélo Monde boutique at 2, rue Ménard, in Versailles. Its price: from 1,799 euros.
