Dutch e-bike maker Stella has gone bust, three days after filing for court protection from creditors, because it can no longer meet its financial obligations.

The shops and service points have been closed and curator Frans van Oss has promised to give customers who have paid for a bike but not yet received it clarity by November 15.

Several potential buyers have come forward and talks are continuing about a restart, Van Oss said in a website statement.

DMEP, the investment firm behind the brand, said it is “no longer responsible” to put more money into the company, the Financieele Dagblad reported earlier this week.

Stella was founded in 2011 and grew into one of the best-known e-bike brands in the Netherlands. It has 48 outlets in the Netherlands and Belgium and a workforce of some 440.

In July 2023, Dutch e-bike maker VanMoof went bust after failing to find new money. VanMoof posted a loss of almost €80 million in 2021 and had never made a profit.