Okawa

About Okawa

Okawa Motor Technology is a manufacturer specializing in e-bike systems, established in 2020 by founder and CEO Dr. Luca Du. The company originated as a division of the Yadea Group, a major producer of electric two-wheelers, which remains a minority shareholder. Dr. Du and his development team leverage technical expertise from the automotive and supplier industries. With its headquarters in Jiangsu, China, Okawa has expanded its presence with a European head office and warehouse in the Netherlands, established in March 2023, and plans to open a production facility in Anadia, Portugal, in early 2025.

Okawa's business model offers both traditional sales and a subscription-based service for its e-drive systems. The subscription model, a first for e-bike drivetrains, allows business-to-business partners and individual customers to pay a recurring fee for access to products, eliminating large upfront investments and including a lifetime guarantee and service. This model is particularly aimed at fleet operators for cargo, rental, or sharing bikes, where operational reliability is critical. For traditional sales, the company provides a limited four-year warranty on drivetrain components, which activates upon system initialization rather than shipment. The company's revenue is also supported by significant investment, including a €16 million Series A funding round in March 2023 from an international investor group.

The company produces a complete range of e-bike components, including mid and hub motors, displays, batteries, controllers, and accessories. A key product is the AT60 mid-motor, which integrates a 4-speed gearbox with 100 Nm of torque and optional automatic shifting. Another offering is a 2-in-1 drivetrain and gear shift system with 8 gears. Okawa's products are developed with quality standards from the automotive industry, using durable materials like ZF oil instead of grease in the motor's sealed compartment. The systems are supported by the Advanced Exchange Service Model (AESM™) and a smartphone app that enables over-the-air software updates and diagnostics.