Where and who makes Stels bicycles?

Since the invention of the bicycle in the 19th century, this vehicle has become one of the most loved in the world. People are attracted by its convenience, maneuverability and accessibility. In some countries and cities of the world, bicycles can be called the main transport. For example, in Amsterdam, the number of bicycles exceeds the population. In Russia, they are also becoming more and more popular every year. One of the most common brands is Stels.

Every year on Russian streets there are more and more bicycles with a sonorous name reminiscent of the famous American stealth fighters. These beautiful, maneuverable and fairly high-quality models make you remember the best examples in the world. And not everyone knows that bicycle manufacturer Stels is the Russian holding Velomotors.

This company refutes the myths that it is impossible to create a successful business in Russia. It began with the usual resale of finished bicycles. The founder of the company is the former military man Alexander Nachevkin. In the difficult 90s for Russia, he had to resign from the army in order to be able to feed his family. He tried to find all possible sources of income: he worked as a driver, sold Ukrainian vegetables and fruits in Moscow. Then he began to bring bicycles to the capital from Bryansk, selling them in Moscow markets. Over time, his younger brother joined him, and together they formed the Velomotors company. And in 1998 the brothers registered the Stels brand.

And in the early 2000s, engineer Igor Ivanov came to the company with his experience and capital.He had experience of communicating with Chinese manufacturers, thanks to which the partners agreed to manufacture bicycles under the Stels brand in China. But over time, the idea of ​​creating our own production appeared - this was how they planned to reduce costs.

The first bicycle plant "Velomotors" was built in Kubinka near Moscow in 2004. The products were assembled here on conveyors from finished parts, mostly Chinese. This step allowed the company to significantly increase its turnover: instead of 120-130 thousand bicycles per year, about 900 thousand were sold. This success made business partners think about expanding production.

Velomotors has opened another plant, this time in the Krasnodar Territory (in the village of Krylovskaya). It was a subtle move - the company not only increased production, but also ensured sales, because the cycling season in the south of the country lasts much longer. As a result, production has almost doubled to 1,500,000 pieces per year. The profit, which the owners decided to invest not only in further expansion, but also in new developments, also increased significantly.

The partners bought out the Zhukovsky Motorcycle Plant - the same one in the Bryansk region where Alexander Nachevkin bought the first bicycles for resale and where the history of Velomotors began. At this plant, they decided to produce scooters, for which it had to be repaired and significantly updated. Approximately 20 million euros were allocated for the modernization of the enterprise and the training of personnel. Japanese and German equipment was purchased, workers and engineers were trained by foreign specialists. As a result, a practically new full-cycle plant was created, local residents were provided with jobs, and the production output reached half a million units per year. Here not only finished products are assembled, but also components are produced, for example, frames for almost all Stels models.

The company increased production and diversified its products. Today, not only bicycles are produced by the company, but also scooters, ATVs and even snowmobiles. And also - accessories and equipment for riding ATVs, bicycles, motorcycles and snowmobiles.

The crisis did not break Velomotors either. The holding continues to develop actively. Today, according to official data, the company is in the leading positions in Europe in the production of bicycle equipment. Velomotors is a permanent participant of international exhibitions, and since 2015 it has expanded its sales geography - now Stels can be bought in Europe as well.

Today, the company's factories produce bicycles of all types - from children's to mountain bicycles, as well as scooters and gyro scooters. All products are certified. In production, the manufacturer uses Chinese and Russian components, some of which are purchased in Europe and Taiwan. Every detail and finished model undergoes quality control. Velomotors' policy is to create the highest quality products at an affordable price.

The brand's lineup includes the following varieties:

• mountain, or mountain bikes, - very functional and reliable, with rigid shock absorption, can be used on rather difficult tracks, made of aluminum and high-quality steel, tires are reinforced (popular Agressor and Navigator models have several modifications);

• models with two hangers - beautiful and powerful, with an adjustable steering wheel, a comfortable seat and high-quality imported shock absorbers, the gearbox has 21 speeds (among the models - Focus, Challenger, Tornado, Voyager, Adrenalin);

• city ​​bikes - for parks and sidewalks with wheels from 26 to 28 inches and different lengths of frames, very affordable (men's models - Cross and Energy, women's models - Navigator and "Miss Stealth");

• BMX (Bicycle Moto Extreme) - stylish, with a lightweight frame and the ability to adjust the saddle and handlebars, good for road trips (these are Tyrant and Saber models);

• all-terrain bicycles, or fat bikes, - powerful, stylish and colorful, suitable for children from 6 years old and older, very reliable (there are Japanese components), quite expensive;

• unusual for Russia tricycles Energy;

• folding - inexpensive, reliable, made of steel and aluminum, among them there are both typical city bikes and something like a folding mountain bike;

• baby - very diverse (popular models Pilot, Arrow, Magic, Flash, etc.);

• there are also tourist models - they are preferred by fans of cycling and difficult tricks, they are good for riding on hilly terrain and difficult terrain, they are distinguished by very high-quality tires, a stable saddle and a functional handlebar.

Customer reviews indicate that Stels bicycles are quite high quality, almost indistinguishable from foreign models. They are reliable, stylish and affordable. Russian consumers trust the Stels brand, and this speaks volumes.

Among the advantages of Stels, experts and buyers name:

• the best price-quality ratio;
• material of construction (made of steel and aluminum);
• the most complex parts are purchased from the world's most reliable manufacturers (for example, in Japan);
• a huge variety of types, models, designs and colors;
• the ability to choose for any request;
• the manufacturer guarantees the quality of the products.

The disadvantages of Velomotors bicycles include:

• short warranty period;
• the price for some of the company's models is somewhat overpriced.

Our country is not only a major buyer of all kinds of goods, but also an active manufacturer of products that are in demand not only in the local market, but also abroad. Proof of this is Stels bicycles: high quality, diverse and recognizable. They are actively bought by both Russians and Europeans. Velomotors annually sells over 1.5 million units of its products.

Watch the video about the origin of the Stels brand.