Masters to Watch: Stijn Smit

MASTERS speaks with prominent figures from the business world, including Stijn Smit, Head of Sales at Eysing. The company has partnered with one of the world's leading automotive designers; the design will be unveiled at MASTERS EXPO.

MASTERS will talk to prominent figures from the business world, including Stijn Smit, Head of Sales at Eysing. The company joined forces with one of the largest designers in the automotive industry internationally; the design will be unveiled at MASTERS EXPO…

Tribute

“Together with Alain van Dijk, Rik Smits and my brother Jasper, I form a group of friends from Vught. We have known each other since childhood. Alain always drew cars and especially two-wheelers, for which he was inspired by classical shapes. He knew from an early age: I wanted to become an automotive designer. While studying Industrial Design at TU Delft, he came across an old Eysink engine. The company from Amersfoort dates back to 1886 and made the first Dutch car, after which it also started to focus on the production of engines. Alain was particularly inspired by Eysink's designs. Designing a vehicle was his biggest dream and the challenge of designing a modern version of the classic Eysink was so inspiring that he literally got to work. In 2014 he started the first drawings for an innovative e-moped with a retro look, a tribute to the pre-war motorcycle.”

Through the roof

“We started purely for ourselves, out of a passion for classic design. But we do want to combine that with today's technology. Electric, otherwise you won't exist in ten years. There are hardly any electric mopeds and scooters with an exceptionally beautiful design. We started building, by hand, in our shed. Solder wiring harnesses yourself, bend steel. We did that on our parents' kitchen counter... which collapsed underneath. Bad idea of ​​course! Discussing, brainstorming and tinkering with each other has led to a rolling prototype. We initially used disc brakes, but they started to squeak with just a few drops of rain, so we switched to drum brakes - you don't hear them. When we finally started riding on the road with this lightweight rider's machine, weighing only 45 kilos, the interest became apparent. “How cool!”, you heard. 'Is that also for sale?' An unusual vehicle, designed for every day, with a range of 80 kilometers. Completely made of steel, handmade in the Netherlands. The descendants of the Eysink family loved that the design is based on the contour lines of their former motorcycle. One of them has even joined as a shareholder. You can't get a better compliment! In 2018 we started working commercially and showed the prototype at MASTERS EXPO. Then we went through the roof: the order books were full in two days. We looked at each other again and said, 'We have to do this.' We stopped our studies and put all our focus on Eysing.”

Community

“In the beginning we said: 'How cool would it be if an Eysing drove by while we were sitting on a terrace somewhere.' We have achieved that goal. We have now produced more than a hundred copies. We first set up the production process in Utrecht and then in Geffen, but we quickly outgrew our facilities there. Now we are back where we started, in Vught. The same building, but expanded with four halls. On the ground floor we have the production line, where everything is made by hand, the service takes place and further development is also realized. Our office space is above that. We also have two dealers in the Netherlands – Voltes in Alkmaar and MOEVS in Eindhoven – and we are in discussions with three other exclusive dealers. Since 2019 we have had a beautiful concept store in the center of Den Bosch, which is the heart of Eysing. Here you can have a cup of coffee, a test drive and the configuration process. Because the possibilities to personalize an Esying are endless. We receive many requests from car collectors who have very specific wishes. They want an Eysing in exactly the same specs as their favorite car, for example with a specific type of paint or leather. Boat owners also have a great demand for an Eysing with the same look and feel as their boat. We distinguish ourselves by a complete tailor-made program, in addition to the regular models in our range. The nice thing is: the buyers of an Eysing remain extremely involved. They call me to ask how things are going, what we are doing. They have automatically become ambassadors who together form a community. And for us there is no better marketing than happy people at an Eysing!”

Best of the best

“We call it an e-moped, but it can be used as a moped or scooter. That's a choice. With a blue license plate it is limited to 25 km/h, you are not required to wear a helmet and you use the cycle path; With the moped variant you can go up to 45 km/h, you must wear a helmet and you can go on the road. Both options, with no price difference, are included in the three models that currently make up our range: the Pioneer, with a slightly longer saddle, truly a city model; the Pioneer S is its sportier brother, with a shortened saddle, different color specifications and more engine power; and finally the Pioneer S Exclusive, which is the cream of the crop with lots of chrome and the most engine power. And it doesn't stop there: we have big plans. This year there will be an expansion of the range. We are entering Europe - all type approvals have been received and we are in discussions with international dealers - and we also have a line in Dubai and Zurich. The production process is being expanded even further, partly to reduce waiting times to a maximum of six weeks. And finally – and that was really our dream – we have joined forces with one of the largest designers in automotive, internationally, which will lead to a completely new design. As it stands now, we will unveil it in December at MASTERS EXPO, which has become a bit like our home.”

Admire all Eysing models here. 

MASTERS EXPO 

Visit Eysing at MASTERS EXPO. From December 8 to 12 in RAI Amsterdam: MASTERS EXPO – The Colorful Edition. Ticket sales for MASTERS EXPO 2022 have started. Purchase here your tickets.