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Business·2 min read

Bastille Cycles, maker of the folding e-bike, enters receivership

Bastille Cycles, the French start-up behind a full-size folding e-bike by the Yoyo stroller inventor, has entered receivership after weaker sales than planned.

A folding electric bike with full-size 27.5-inch wheels shown partly folded, the Bastille E from French maker Bastille Cycles.
Image: Frandroid
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Bastille Cycles, the French start-up behind the only folding bike with full-size wheels that also comes in an electric version, was placed in receivership (redressement judiciaire) on Thursday 29 October by the Paris commercial court. Co-founder Gilles Henry says sales fell short of the trajectory the company had set, even though the target was reasonable.

A tough market and cautious investors

Henry says Bastille "arrived a bit late on the market", which slumped just as the bike launched. "We are not far from the level we wanted, but this small gap is enough to throw us off course," he explains, without giving sales figures. He also points to financing problems: since the setbacks of many players from 2023, including VanMoof, which had raised nearly 200 million euros, investors have become wary, while other industry players that could have invested or acquired are struggling too.

Bastille is not the only French brand in trouble. Cycles Lapierre was placed in receivership in late August, with a six-month observation period to find an investor.

The bike and its price

The Bastille was designed by Henry, creator of the Yoyo folding stroller, which has sold 2 million units. It has 27.5-inch wheels yet folds small enough for a high-speed train or the metro. The electric Bastille E, launched in 2025, has a 25 Nm rear motor, a 210 Wh battery and a stated weight of 16.7 kg. It costs 3,190 euros, 600 euros more than the 2,590-euro mechanical version. The company justifies the price by its premium positioning: French assembly, a carbon fork, Mach1 wheels, Continental tyres, Shimano hydraulic brakes, Spanninga lighting and a Gates belt.

What happens next

Activity continues during the procedure. The Bastille E appeared sold out on the brand's website on Tuesday 3 November, and a refurbished version is offered from 2,590 euros. The observation period runs six months, until 29 April 2027, and the court can renew it. It can end in a recovery plan backed by new funding, liquidation or a takeover.

For current owners nothing changes immediately, and partner shops remain the first contact. The outcome will determine who honours the two-year warranty and supplies parts specific to the bike, such as its all-in-one electric hub. Henry says he remains optimistic, citing probable investors contacted before the filing and "many projects in the pipeline".

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Tags:bastille cycleselectric bikefolding bikereceivershipyoyofrance

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