Scorpio Electric CEO on disrupting the automotive sector with its first electric motorcycle X1

Scorpio Electric, founded by Melvin Goh and led by his son Joshua Goh, is Singapore’s first electric motorcycle company. It was established in 2017, under the parent company EuroSports Global Limited, which has been specialising in luxury automobile distribution for decades.

The name Scorpio is derived from Melvin’s Scorpio horoscope, and the company’s motto “Take Charge” embodies character values such as honesty, tenacity, courage, and diligence.

Melvin is the CEO of EuroSports Global and Founder Advisor of Scorpio Electric, and he envisioned the need for sustainable mobility alternatives. With Scorpio Electric, he has set sights on revolutionising the future of sustainable transportation and the company’s vision is to create zero tailpipe emission vehicles.

But instead of creating a car company, Melvin felt that it would be more feasible to create an electric motorcycle company.

“It would have been far too expensive to create a car company. An electric motorcycle company would be much more palatable,” Joshua explains, adding that they have a strong belief that electric vehicles (EVs) would disrupt the automotive industry.

Scorpio Electric’s mission is to create electric motorcycles that are visually and experientially exciting, packed with new technologies and connectivity. They challenge the boundaries of the riding and ownership experience, centred around three key pillars of design, performance, and technology.

Taking over his dad’s business

Joshua is currently the CEO of Scorpio Electric. He has been surrounded by exotic sports cars since he was young, and has a deep passion for anything automotive-related.

Prior to joining EuroSports Global Limited, Joshua had the opportunity to experience a variety of roles in the capital markets, corporate finance, and corporate restructuring. His experience deepened his knowledge of the lingua franca within the business and finance industries.

Joshua joined EuroSports Global Limited in 2017, where he undertook a variety of responsibilities within the portfolio of automotive brands that the company has, from general operations to strategic planning and business development. In 2020, Joshua vested his full concentration on Scorpio Electric.

He took over Scorpio Electric after his dad approached him with the idea, who originally asked him if he wanted to lead the Alfa Romeo distribution business unit. He contemplated on the offer for two weeks, and eventually decided to return to the family business because he believed he was in the best position to help his family.

I set out to focus on preparing the Alfa Romeo distribution business for the arrival of the brand-new model line-up. A profitable automotive distribution business would free up positive cashflow for EuroSports Global to reinvest into Scorpio Electric.

Unfortunately, we were unable to turn the corner, and six months into the first year of sales I knew we had to pivot. We managed to clinch the distribution rights to Jeep Indonesia, [and] I was excited to cater to a 270 million population market. The operations were already laid out since we were already the official Lamborghini Jakarta distributor, so off I went. 

However, in late 2019, indications of the COVID-19 pandemic emerged and by early 2020, it became evident that their efforts to introduce a new automotive brand were unsustainable.

They ended up regrouping and examining various proposals to boost revenue or reduce costs. Melvin found Joshua’s concepts impressive, which prompted him to ask his son to assist him at Scorpio Electric.

“We are making progress in the proper direction, but there is still much work to be done as we are only beginning,” said Joshua.

Meet its flagship product, the X1

Scorpio Electric’s flagship product, the X1, took five years to design, engineer, test, and validate.

According to Joshua, the company’s X1 electric motorcycle is a game-changer.

The automotive ecosystem here in Singapore is non-existent, and we want to build up Singapore’s capabilities in time. No one else in Singapore has since chosen this path due to the complexity, time and cost involved in such an exercise.

Named after the most powerful star in the Scorpio constellation, the X1 is designed to challenge the boundaries of urban electric mobility. 

The X1 is a premium electric motorcycle that boasts impressive specifications, such as a top speed of 105kph and an industry-leading range of 200km on a single charge. It offers seamless mobile application connectivity and is equipped with a variety of sensors that gather real-time data for AI-aided predictive analysis.

Featuring a futuristic and distinctive design, the X1 is presented in a practical maxi-scooter form that offers dynamic ride and handling qualities.

Smart rider technology and connectivity are incorporated into this scooter, and it comprises a permanent magnet synchronous motor and a lithium manganese cobalt oxide battery that works in harmony with its proprietary vehicle control unit to power the X1 flawlessly.

Charging ahead to create a sustainable mobility brand

Scorpio Electric faced many challenges in its early days. The company had to set up the team properly, and it took them a full year to do so.

Finding the right talent and setting up a supply chain ecosystem were some of the key challenges faced. “Not everyone is brave and willing to work at or do business with a startup,” said Joshua simply.

At Scorpio Electric, Melvin was the driving force in the early design and development of the brand, the product, and the company culture. Meanwhile, Joshua’s goal was to learn as much as he could about the company’s present and future plans and ensure consistent and coherent communication within the organisation.

The company have been fortunate to garner the support of local government agencies in some of its corporate and engineering related matters. This support helped the company overcome some of the challenges, and it’s now on the cusp on a major breakthrough.

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global supply chains and delayed most of Scorpio Electric’s plans, but it also highlighted the need for sustainable energy solutions, which have become even more urgent in recent times.

At the end of 2021, we had a virtual pre-order launch of the X1. The orderbook has been robust, and our fans and supporters are eagerly anticipating the deliveries of the X1 in the second half of 2023. Singapore is our home [so] we will have our unveiling of the X1 here.

He added that the X1 is a European homologated international product, and any market that accepts the European homologation standards as a reference point will be Scorpio Electric’s playing field.

Leveraging on EuroSports Global’s strong distribution experience, they will work closely with their partners to set up direct sales or distribution channels within the Asia Pacific and European territories.

Scorpio Electric recently raised US$6.75 million in funding in January this year, which will be used to manufacture the first batch of X1 pre-production prototypes. Over the course of development and testing, Joshua said that “the X1 will look more special in its final form.”

The company has the backing of investors who understand its vision, and the new injection of funds will enable Scorpio Electric to continue developing innovative and sustainable electric vehicles.

“This year is an exciting year for us. We continue to lay the foundation of the business, while harvesting the seeds we sowed for the past five years. As we lay out solid distribution channels across the regions for future product commercialisation, we are finally seeing our Scorpio Electric bike on the road this year,” said Joshua.

“Nonetheless, our team is working relentlessly on designing, prototyping and testing plans for future model line-ups. We will continue to push the boundaries to welcome a new era of electric mobility,” he added.

Featured Image Credit: Scorpio Electric