Roland Krueger, former Dyson CEO joins FTN Motion as a shareholder and advisor alongside Jamie France, former Rocket Lab
Head of Engineering, Production and Launch for the Electron rocket.FTN Motion has raised $2.6 million to fund its expansion and exports
Kiwi automotive start-up FTN Motion is welcoming Dyson’s former CEO, Roland Krueger, as an advisor and shareholder
alongside Jamie France, who most recently led Engineering, Production and Launch for the Electron rocket at space
company Rocket Lab.Roland Krueger (Photo supplied)Jamie France (Photo supplied)
FTN Motion was founded in 2020 by Luke Sinclair, Kendall Bristow, and Saskia Thornton to disrupt commuting with their
electric motorcycle the Streetdog. Earlier this year, they moved to a purpose-built facility in Hamilton to scale for
exports to Australia and beyond; and earlier this month FTN launched its new motorcycle the Streetdog80. In just three
weeks, more than 50 customers on both sides of the Tasman have reserved theirs for delivery from the end of 2024.
FTN Motion is the first New Zealand-based company Krueger has backed. He discovered FTN through New Zealand Trade and
Enterprise and has followed its progress for some time. Before Dyson, he had a long career in the automotive industry
and has remained deeply passionate about it.
“The Streetdog is brilliant in its simplicity,” he says.
“The way the Streetdog’s storage is integrated into the body of the bike is one of those ideas so perfectly simple, you
wonder why no one else thought of it before.
“It's a great idea that builds on the heritage of pure motorcycle design and combines it with the latest EV technology,
allowing a new transport method. With the Streetdog, FTN has huge potential and a real chance of becoming an iconic
brand, ”he says.
Jamie France joined Rocket Lab in 2014 when it was still a start-up. Now the Head of Manufacturing and Supply Chain at
Fleet Space Technologies, he says Streetdog’s fusion of build quality, clever engineering and style impressed him from
the start.
“As New Zealanders we all resonate with the John Britten and Burt Munro stories of creative inventors, taking on the
world and showing what can be done with fresh thinking, determination and excellent engineering.
“The bikes that FTN make transform a customer's daily commute into the most enjoyable part of their day - bringing that
experience to new international locations is an awesome opportunity,” he says.
Luke Sinclair, FTN Motion’s co-founder says both Krueger and France bring invaluable experience from production and
engineering perspectives.
“We’re stoked to have them join as we ramp up our plans to export, beginning with Australia. They get the vision and
most critically, understand the supply chain, quality control and cashflow challenges unique to a manufacturing company
with a technically complex product,’’ he says.
FTN Motion also recently completed its latest capital raising round, with an additional $2.6 million committed to the
company. Sinclair says this will help fund the completion of R projects geared towards developing the Streetdog80 and streamlining production to bring forward delivery times.FTN_Motion-Michel Roncara and Luke Sinclair. (Photo credit Aaron Lam)
“We’re working towards being able to build 70 Streetdogs a month. This latest round will help us meet our delivery
targets while pursuing best-in-class build quality. This funding has come from investors passionate about supporting
meaningful innovation, and we’re excited to have them join the next step of our journey,” he says.
FTN Motion has launched the Streetdog80 in New Zealand and Australia. Built to order in Hamilton, it’s fully
customisable and has a top speed of 80 km per hour. You can find out more and reserve yours here.
About FTN Motion:
FTN Motion is on a mission to change how the world commutes with its electric motorcycles, which combine performance,
design, and world-class innovation. Founded in New Zealand in 2020, founders Luke Sinclair, Kendall Bristow, and Saskia
Thornton developed the original Streetdog motorcycle. Different by design, it pairs a unique, classic motorbike feel
with purposefully minimalist yet cutting-edge technology and layout, delivering an exhilarating and uncomplicated riding
experience.
Designed and built in New Zealand in limited batches using premium components the classic Streetdog has a top speed of
50km per hour and can be ridden on a car license. The Streetdog80 has a top speed of 80km per hour and requires riders
to have a motorcycle license. Both bikes come with 30L of lockable storage and a removable battery that can be charged
anywhere there’s a power socket. To find out more, visit ww.ftnmotion.com