Wilfried Dunand, director of Flying-Cat, a pioneering manufacturer of electric bicycles in the Occitanie region, is the perfect embodiment of the company’s visionary spirit and deep attachment to the region. In this interview, we explore the origins of the partnership between Flying-Cat and ACTIA, and the prospects it opens up for the development of Occitan electric bike.
Can you give us a brief introduction to Flying-Cat as a French manufacturer of electric bicycles based in Sète?
Wilfried Dunand: “FlyingCat stands out as a pioneer of electric bikes in Occitanie, having been the first to introduce this technology to the region. Ever since we started out in 2008, we have embraced the vision of alternative urban mobility. Despite our initial collaboration with Asian partners, we have constantly aspired to prioritise local labour, focusing on the quality of our products while supporting the local economy and cultivating partnerships on a human level. Despite the challenges of achieving Asian productivity levels by producing in Occitanie, we have sought to capitalise on the advantages of this proximity. In ACTIA, we have found a reliable partner offering the flexibility and competitiveness we need to develop our projects. Thanks to our collaboration, we were able to design a prototype in a very short space of time, and our electric bike is currently in the approval phase. This is a real accomplishment for us.”
How does this proximity translate into collaboration between your two companies?
Wilfried Dunand: “Geographical proximity was a decisive factor in our partnership with ACTIA. As regional players who share the same vision and ambitions, it was natural for us to work closely together. We share a similar industrial culture based on proximity to our customers and a commitment to quality and innovation. This collaboration enables us to develop solutions tailored to the specific needs of our local market, while benefiting from ACTIA’s technical skills and expertise.”
Can you tell us more about the partnership between Flying-Cat and ACTIA for developing Occitan electric bike?
Wilfried Dunand: “ACTIA provides Flying-Cat with the key technical components for our electric bikes, including the hub motor, the battery, and its connected app, which is a real asset for our product. The trend in usage is moving towards a growing demand for connectivity. These elements, combined with our expertise in bicycle design and manufacture, mean that we can offer a high-quality product, tailored to the diverse needs of urban users and touring enthusiasts. We opted for the hub motor because it has so many advantages. Driven by ACTIA’s mature algorithms, it ensures that the bike behaves in line with user expectations, providing optimum flexibility and comfort of use. ACTIA’s connectivity enables users to track and optimise their journeys and their use of the bike. Flying-Cat electric bikes are aimed at a wide audience, from city dwellers looking for sustainable mobility to senior citizens keen to stay active.”
What are the next projects and prospects for the partnership between Flying-Cat and ACTIA?
Wilfried Dunand: “We are involved in a number of innovative initiatives for the Occitanie Region. Together with ACTIA and other local entities such as Vélo Factory, Seridecal and Groupe Optitec, the Vélo Occitan project has recently been selected in connection with tenders for experimental projects. These initiatives include equipping the Region’s high schools with electric bikes to get our young teenagers back in the saddle and developing multimodal transport with a long-term hire service at railway stations: the station-bike. The connectivity ACTIA provides for Occitan electric bike will play a crucial role in these projects. By enabling data recorded on bicycles in circulation to be collected and analysed, it will help guide decisions on continuing projects and optimising bicycle performance during their deployment.”
Closing remarks
Wilfried Dunand: “We have great ambitions for the future of our partnership with ACTIA. Together, we plan to develop new technological solutions, particularly with regard to the mid-drive motor, to further improve the performance and comfort of our electric bikes. At a time when soft mobility is becoming increasingly important, we are convinced that our collaboration will enable us to introduce innovative and sustainable solutions, meeting our customers’ needs while promoting the development of our region.”
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