Arc Motorcycles back in liquidation | British electric brand confirm they have filed for bankruptcy

Coventry-based luxury electric brand Arc, responsible for the £98,000 hub-steering Vector, have announced they have filed for bankruptcy. 

Arc V Ltd were founded in 2020 and had delivered 11 electric motorcycles to customers before entering liquidation proceedings. High-profile customers include A-list Hollywood actor and businessman Ryan Reynolds, as well as Middle Eastern royalty.

• Related: Arc Vector review

“Ultimately when you sell high-cost low-volume bespoke products it doesn’t take many people letting you down to put you in a difficult position,” Founder and CEO Mark Truman explained. “Things had been going very well, but distribution issues in the US really hurt our revenue which forced us to seek investment. 

“I’m currently working with partners and am determined to try and bring Arc out of administration. I will also do everything I can to support client motorcycles in market going forward.”

The firm say they were nearing completion on EU homologation and had previously received backing from the Government’s Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV), to develop a new dual motor with integrated inverter for future electric motorcycles.

Having announced the support in late 2023, things were looking up for the British firm – who released
a rendered image of three bikes and an all-terrain four wheeler and further stating they were working on a range of battery machines.

“We’ve done everything we can to try to stop this situation,” Truman told MCN. “My wife and I were putting our own money in almost up to the last day, even though we pretty much were guaranteed that we weren’t going to see that money back again.

“The first thing that we did when we realised that this was going to happen was reach out to all of the customers,” he continued. “Everyone was extremely understanding and wished us the best and hoped that we could rectify the situation.”

Alongside Government backing, Arc had been self-funding motorcycle projects through design and engineering consultancy work, via Arc Design.

The near-£100k Vector featured development hours from former MotoGP and BSB rider James Ellison and used a Bimota-style hub centre steered front end. The middle section of the bike features a carbon fibre monocoque, which is used to house the 399v battery. 

The rear swingarm bolts onto the back of the electric motor, with carbon fibre BST wheels shod with Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV Corsa tyres at each end. 

Although Arc V Ltd have been going since 2020, the story actually spans seven years. Prior to this, there was Arc Vehicle Ltd, which began in early 2017 but went into administration in September 2019. Truman then bought back the assets to keep the project alive. 

“It’s the worst process,” he continued. “It’s the most brutal process, especially this second time around because you promised yourself it’d never happen again.”

Exactly what’s next for the brand remains unknown, with Truman adding: “It’s been tough, I wouldn’t wish it upon my worst enemy.”