New mobility is drawing more brands toward a niche market in electric vehicles. Rivian, Nikola, and Lucid are examples that may not be widely known in Spain yet are steadily building a name in the U.S. automotive scene. The same trend appears in motorcycles, where the Chinese brand NIU leads a vibrant urban segment with over 160,000 electric bikes and scooters sold in just the first quarter. Brands are popping up in many countries, including Spain, which now hosts more than a dozen players chasing a share of the market. Two notable Galician-backed efforts stand out: the eezon division created by VMS in Vigo, primarily focused on delivery, and Velca, launched by Galician Emilio Froján (Caldas de Reis) as last year’s top seller of electric mopeds in Spain. Both aim to establish strong local roots in Galicia, with plans to build a local assembly footprint and to expand operations in Vigo. Velca and its leaders emphasize a clear commitment to Galicia and to the Zona Franca, with Vigo positioned as the regional hub and a pivotal partner in the expansion. Velca says Vigo leads the way, a point confirmed by Froján during recent discussions with regional officials (Froján).
Before the covid era, Velca contemplated creating an electric motorcycle during a stay in Germany. By late 2019 a decision was made to move forward with four partners, and the brand officially launched in February 2020. Initial hurdles gradually gave way to growth, and last year Velca surpassed the 400-moped mark, establishing itself as an industry leader.
Today Velca employs about thirty people. Its units are assembled in two Chinese facilities, with final touches performed in Madrid through a partner company, Quazzartech, and in Poland. Most components are sourced from Asia for assembly, mirroring the approach of many electric motorcycle brands. The long-term goal is to establish Velca’s own initial assembly line and progressively bring more suppliers closer to home. This strategy supports their best-selling Bora, Calima, and Tramontana models, including the Tramontana S variant.
Following rapid expansion, several regions expressed interest in collaboration. Andalusia, Castilla y León, Madrid, and Navarra stood out, with Galicia also playing a key role. Froján, who seeks to return home, explains that conversations with other regions were paused to honor commitments to Galicia and the Zona Franca, ensuring a Vigo-led development. A recent meeting with regional delegate David Regades further solidified those plans (Regades).
The core rationale behind this approach includes a strong industrial base already aligned with the automotive sector, notably Stellantis and Ceaga, plus the port of Vigo. Velca’s leadership stresses the importance of a local ally near the port for both imports of components and exports. The company notes accelerated engagement with Galicia’s public administration in recent weeks to make the plan a reality.
1 A startup amid a global pause
The company traces its roots to late 2019, with an official launch just before the pandemic’s onset in early 2020. The timing frames a story of resilience and rapid adaptation in a shifting market.
2 Production footprint and finishing work
Velca’s products are manufactured at two sites in China, with final assembly and finishing steps carried out in Poland and Madrid. In Spain, the assembly work is done with local partners, while broader components originate from Asia. The aim is to establish a local assembly hub and gradually bring more suppliers closer to home, reinforcing regional autonomy in production.
3 Market presence and social reach
By 2021 Velca’s mopeds topped sales charts in Spain and earned a large following across Europe on social networks, reinforcing the brand’s influence in the electric motorcycle space.
The plan envisions a decision by September on a forthcoming investment that would support setting up the assembly facility. The initial investment is not expected to be prohibitive, around 1.5 million euros, with roughly a dozen jobs created. Velca compares this move to how Dangel transformed Stellantis vans into four-by-fours aboard a port ship.
As the path unfolds, Velca progresses with its ambitions to reach 1,500 mopeds sold this year, introduce an electric bike line this week including a model nodding to Fisterra, Galicia, and pursue a new capital increase in the coming months. The company continues to push growth while strengthening its regional footprint.
Expanding beyond Galicia: from Portugal to France
Velca is a Spanish moped brand with eyes on nearby markets. After debuting in Portugal, the ambition is to expand across the Raia border into France, followed by Italy and Germany. This regional strategy was outlined by CEO Emilio Froján in a later interview referenced by local media after a conference of the Pontevedra Young Entrepreneurs Association (AJE) (FARO interview).
The firm counts 65 direct employees and more than 1,500 micro-inverters, following two equity crowdfunding rounds that raised over 2 million euros in total. Velca is considering another fundraising round focused more on Galicia as a potential industrial hub for the company’s future operations (Froján).