Coast firm is virus victim
THE coronavirus has put the brakes on a Gold Coast electric skateboard company launching its rideshare business in Australia.
Fiik Skateboards, which was founded by Mathew and Daniel Quinn in 2010, has 1000 electric scooters in its factory in Wiyu, China, ready to be shipped to Australia.
The company has plans to launch Ride Fiik to the Australian market, with investors able to start up their own rideshare business by buying a fleet of five scooters to rent out.
But the “smart’’ scooters need to have IOT (Internet of Things) wireless devices installed before they can be shipped to Australia.
That is being held up by travel restrictions and the closure of the factories in China supplying the devices in the wake of the coronavirus.
Fiik general manager
Grant Stedman said the company was waiting to learn when it could get the scooters shipped.
“Everything is done but there is no movement in China with the coronavirus.”
The IOT devices enable the owners to track and control the scooters remotely so they can see exactly where they are as well as other indicators such as battery voltage.
Mr Stedman said once the devices were delivered it would take just a few days for installation before the scooters could be shipped to Australia.
He said Fiik Skateboards was now aiming for the start of the school holidays in April for the business launch. “It is an unknown. We just don’t know how long it will be.”
Fiik has produced 30,000 rideshare scooters so far, which have been exported worldwide.
Another Coast business, apparel and merchandise supplier Scout Brand Supply, has also been impacted by the virus. The company is waiting on surfwear to be delivered in time for the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships in April.
“We speak to the factories every day. Workers were scheduled to come back this week but the word has come back from the government to stay indoors for another two weeks,” owner Kevin Painter said.
“So obviously there is no production, no one is working at the ports and nothing is coming out.”
Mr Painter said his employees in China were staying positive but “the sooner work starts again the better”.
IT IS AN UNKNOWN. WE JUST DON’T KNOW HOW LONG IT WILL BE
FIIK SKATEBOARDS GENERAL MANAGER GRANT STEDMAN