A Swiss startup, OTTER, continues its global expansion by selling its flagship electric-assisted water bike in the US. OTTER has signed a partnership with a company in the Southeastern United States to display, demonstrate, and sell its products to local customers.
As mentioned above, OTTER is a startup founded in Switzerland that is on a mission to “bring the benefits of electric-assisted cycling to the water.” Furthermore, its vision is to become the leading brand in that segment.
The startup’s quest to deliver a water bike that offers everyone an easy and silent mode of aquatic transport culminated in its flagship product, the Otter Explorer (seen above). These electrically assisted pedal boats or “water bikes” offer a new category in aquatic recreation and bring mobility tech that makes such exploration easier than ever, much like the substantial growth in electric bike adoption.
While the first “Otter Bikes” debuted in their native Switzerland, their makers quickly expanded availability to other parts of Europe earlier this year. They met with strong demand and a near sell-out of their initial production run. Described as a “natural next step,” OTTER is bringing its electrified water bikes to the US with the help of its new partner, Nautical Ventures.
OTTER’s electric water bikes to launch in Florida this month
OTTER shared details of its plans to sell its water bikes in the US alongside news of a partnership with Nautical Ventures, an award-winning Florida-based boat dealership network. Beginning this month, Nautical Ventures will serve as the exclusive reseller of OTTER water bikes in Florida.
The company intends to stock the Otter Explorer vessels for sale and showcase demo models at an interactive water sports area during three of the nation’s most popular boat shows, including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Palm Beach.
OTTER said that Florida was an easy choice as the initial location to begin US sales of its water bikes due to its year-round boating culture, extensive inland waterways, and “strong appetite” for new water sports. OTTER founder Gian Zimmerman spoke about the new partnership and the potential of its first US market:
Partnering with Nautical Ventures gives us an immediate foothold in the U.S. with a trusted and professional team that knows how to introduce innovative products to the market. We also share a vision of making water recreation more sustainable and more accessible.
Think of it as a personal mini-yacht that’s easy to handle and emissions-free. It’s a new category of water recreation, and we believe it will resonate strongly in the US, especially in Florida where lifestyle, wellness, and water are so deeply intertwined.
As mentioned above, the Otter Explorer’s initial production run is nearly sold out and should do so once US sales begin. However, the startup said it is already working hard on its next series of electric water bikes, “incorporating improvements and insights” from its early customers. Additionally, OTTER says it is developing new designs to expand its product lineup in the “near future.”
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