experts in electric vehicles MELEX

Vice President of the Board, Financial Director of Melex Sp. z o.o. - Mr. Dariusz Gujda

ExpErts in ElEctric vEhiclEs

MELEX, a company from Mielec, Poland, is one of the longest lasting manufacturers of electric vehicles in the world. Its models are tailored made and customised to individual orders.

Pope Francis on his historic visit to Auschwitz

The company’s history goes back to the beginning of the 1970s when an American engineer came to Poland to find a company that had the right infrastructure to produce electric carts for golf courses. The aircraft factory in Mielec was chosen since many innovative projects were being created there at that time. An independent department was established and named after the town of Mielec.

The cooperation was beneficial for both sides: Americans received a high-quality premium product for an affordable price, while for the Polish company, at that point ‘behind the iron curtain’, payment in foreign currency was also very useful.

The Mielec R&D Centre designed golf cart prototypes in 1971 and the first batch of 10 vehicles was sent overseas. Inexpensive in comparison to the competition, noiseless, manoeuvrable, easy to use and very durable MELEX soon won the American golf courses. In the second half of the 1970s the Mielec factory’s annual production grew to 10,000 units, gaining almost 10 per cent of the US market.

In the middle of the 1980s, the company’s plans were thwarted by the Polish government’s declaration of martial law and the US embargo on Polish goods that ensued. MELEX reacted to the new situation by implementing product diversification, moving away from its flagship product - golf vehicles - and beginning the production of passenger and cargo models.

New markets, like South America, Western Europe and Scandinavia began to emerge and in 1993, as a result of the restructuring process in Poland, MELEX became a separate company. After a few years, it found itself in trouble, which resulted in bankruptcy in 2003. However, in September 2004, the company was saved by new investors: Mr. Andrzej Tyszkiewicz, former general director of FSO (the biggest automotive factory in Poland) and his wife Dorota. The new owners introduced several much-needed changes, including increased the company’s offer and building a wide international distribution network, making MELEX became profitable again. Celebrities also use MELEX vehicles

Nearly 150,000 MELEX electric vehicles have been sold so far. The company employs 170 highly qualified and experienced employees and is constantly developing its dealer network in Europe and around the world, thus gaining new sales markets.

The largest number of MELEX vehicles goes to Scandinavian countries, where they have been sold for 25 years by the company’s dealer AB NOMACO. They are popular as internal transport meaning in harbours, shipyards, ironworks and factories; they also serve as vehicles servicing bike paths and maintaining urban greenery. About 250 vehicles go from Mielec to the Scandinavian market every year. The Balkans are another important market. WAWA d.o.o., a company from Croatia, accounts for around 10 per cent of MELEX’s total vehicles - mostly passenger vehicles, as the Adriatic coast is a popular tourist destination. With a similar number of sales in Western Europe, Electrocar BV, a company from the Netherlands, is responsible for Benelux countries and western Germany.

MELEX electric vehicles have had a few famous riders too, including the late Pope John Paul II, US President Donald Trump, football legend Diego Maradona and Hollywood actress Sharon Stone.

Wide electrifying offer

MELEX offers more than 100 different models that are used in a variety of industries. These are cargo, passenger and special vehicles, from three model lines and with four different wheelbases. The range also includes vehicles homologated in category L7e (MWRE7A, MWRE8A), which can ride on public roads.

The most popular MELEX products are cargo models with special features such as aluminium containers or made with sandwich plate, and coming with various features including; electric and hydraulic lifters, cargos with netting boards and tilts. Isotherms are great for catering or for transporting suitcases and bedding, towels, etc.

in the hotel industry. Another category, which enjoys recognition among customers are 4-, 6- and 8- passenger models, which are also used in the tourism industry. The double A-frame with springs and 13” wheels significantly improves comfort and manoeuvrability, and the modern design its aesthetically pleasing. The passengers can move around easily in areas that are inaccessible to combustion vehicles such as old towns, city centres, parks and nature reserves.

Small truck, N.TRUCK

The company creates new model lines to meet the growing requirements and expectations of its customers and is now working on its new N.TRUCK model line. The aim of the project is to develop a modular utility vehicle, with an electric drive, weighing in at 3.5 tonnes (DMC), to be used for transport in urban and industrial areas with a load capacity of up to 2 tonnes. The model will be made in three versions of the chassis length. Engine power starts from 10 kW, and the maximum speed is 50 km/h, with an average distance of up to 120 km (75 miles).

N.TRUCK will be equipped with unique options such as: smart battery replacement, contactless recharge system, four-wheel drive, front and rear turn axles in long models. Additionally, it will have heating, air condition, audio system, larger display, parking sensor, rear back up camera, adjustable steering column, remote diagnostics and vehicle monitoring system. The 3-phase on-board charger will remain at around 80 per cent charge after just one hour.

This small electric truck will be used for city driving. Serial production of N.TRUCK line is set to start in 2021, on the company’s 50th anniversary. MELEX is anticipating a large number of new orders for N.TRUCK in a short time, and has invested in a new facility, equipped with modern equipment, in which production of the new line will start. n

For more information, visit: www.melex.com.pl

HELLA

HELLA is a global, family-owned company listed on the stock exchange that employs roughly 39,000 members of staff at over 125 locations in 35 countries. The HELLA Group develops and manufactures lighting and electronic components as well as systems and, as a technology leader, is an important partner of the automotive industry and the aftermarket for more than one hundred years. In the Special Applications segment, HELLA furthermore develops products for specialist vehicles. With almost 8,000 people working in research and development, HELLA is one of the most important innovation drivers on the market. HELLA has achieved sales of 7.0 billion in FY 2018/2019.

Andrzej Duda- President of the Republic of Poland visiting Melex