Where and who makes Stels bikes?

Since the invention of the bicycle in the 19th century, this vehicle has become one of the most beloved in the world. People are attracted to it by 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 also become more and more popular every year. One of the most common brands can be called Stels.

Every year on the Russian streets there are more and more bicycles with a sonorous name reminiscent of the famous American invisible fighters. These beautiful, maneuverable and fairly high-quality models make you remember the best world models. And not everyone knows that Bicycle manufacturer Stels is the Russian holding company 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 bikes. The founder of the company is former military Alexander Nachevkin. In the difficult for Russia 90 years 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 communicating with Chinese manufacturers, so the partners agreed on the production of bicycles under the Stels brand in China. But over time, the idea of ​​creating their own production came up - so they planned to reduce costs.

The first bicycle factory "Velomotors" was built in Kubinka near Moscow in 2004. The products here were collected on conveyors from finished parts, mainly Chinese. This step allowed the company to significantly increase turnover: instead of 120-130 thousand bicycles, about 900 thousand began to be sold per year. Such 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 delicate move - the company not only increased production, but also provided sales, because the bicycle season in the south of the country lasts much longer. As a result, production has almost doubled, to 1,500,000 units per year. Profits also increased significantly, which the owners decided to invest not only in further expansion, but also in new developments.

Partners bought the Zhukovsky Motors Plant - the one in the Bryansk Region, where Alexander Nachevkin bought the first bicycles for resale and where the story of Velomotors began. At this plant, they decided to produce scooters, for which it had to be repaired and significantly updated. About 20 million euros were allocated for the modernization of the enterprise and staff training. Japanese and German equipment was purchased, workers and engineers trained by foreign specialists. As a result, an almost new full-cycle plant was created, local residents were provided with work, and production output reached half a million units per year. Here, they not only assemble finished products, but also produce components, 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 on ATVs, bicycles, motorcycles and snowmobiles.

Velomotors did not break the crisis either. The holding continues to actively develop. To date, according to official figures, the company is in a leading position in Europe in the production of cycle equipment. Velomotors is a regular participant in international exhibitions, and since 2015 it has expanded the geography of sales - now Stels can also be bought in Europe.

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

In the model range of the brand there are the following varieties:

• mountain or mountain biking, - very functional and reliable, with rigid cushioning, can be used on rather difficult tracks, made of aluminum and high-quality steel, tires are strengthened (the popular Agressor models, as well as Navigator have several modifications);

• models with two suspensions - beautiful and powerful, with an adjustable steering wheel, a comfortable saddle 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 frames of different lengths, very affordable (male models - Cross and Energy, female models - Navigator and Miss Stealth);

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

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

• unusual for Russia tricycles of Energy;

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

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

• there are also tourist models - lovers of cycling and difficult stunts prefer them, they are good for riding on hilly terrain and difficult places, they are distinguished by very high-quality tires, a stable saddle and a functional steering wheel.

Customer reviews suggest that Stels bicycles are quite high-quality, almost no different from foreign models. They are reliable, stylish and affordable. Russian consumers trust the Stels brand, and this says a lot.

Among the advantages of Stels, experts and buyers call:

• best value for money;
• construction material (made of steel and aluminum);
• the most complex parts are purchased from the most reliable global 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 products.

The disadvantages of Velomotors bicycles include:

• short warranty period;
• the price of some models of the company is somewhat overstated.

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

See the video about the origin of the Stels brand.