Founder Neal Saiki Leaves Zero Motorcycles

The founder of Zero Motorcycles, Neal Saiki, is leaving his electric motorcycle startup to venture into an even more innovative project – human-powered flight. The former NASA engineer started Zero in his Scotts Valley, California garage back in 2006, with the company blossoming into one of the industry leaders in the nascent electric motorcycle industry. Saiki’s previous accomplishments included successful designs in the mountain bike industry, but before all

Neal Saiki founded Zero Motorcycles with his wife in their California garage in 2006. The company currently employs more than 60 people and produces the most robust lineup of electric motorcycles in the U.S., including the new Zero XU.

the bike projects he helped develop the self-propelled Da Vinci III helicopter as a CALPOLY San Louis Obispo engineering student. The Da Vinci III achieved brief lift-off in 1989, though not enough to fulfill the requirements to earn the $250,000 Sikorsky Prize awarded to the first controlled human-powered flight (see the full details of the Sikorsky Prize and read more about Saiki’s Da Vinci III project). Solving the riddle of the Sikorsky Prize will be Saiki’s goal post-Zero, with his former company a corporate sponsor of the human-flight project.

Saiki’s exit from day-to-day operations at Zero mirrors a similar move at nearby electric motorcycle competitor Mission Motors, where co-founder Forrest North was replaced as CEO in February 2011.  - MCUSA Ed Bart Madson

Press Release Courtesy of Zero Motorcycles

Zero Motorcycles, the global leader in the electric motorcycle industry today announced that its founder, Neal Saiki, is leaving his daily operational responsibilities for the company. He will be re-entering the Igor I. Sikorski Human Powered Helicopter Competition, which Neal first pursued at Cal Poly, San Louis Obispo as an aeronautical engineering student in 1989. Neal and his wife, Lisa, founded Zero Motorcycles Inc. (then called Electricross) in their garage in Scotts Valley, Calif., in January of 2006. Now, five years later, the company has built a strong management team, an employee base of over 60 people and has just announced the industry’s broadest line of electric motorcycles for 2011.

“Neal had the vision, the talent and the courage to launch an electric motorcycle company before there really was an electric motorcycle industry, or even a market. His vision and hard work have helped make Zero the industry leader,” stated long-time Zero Motorcycles Board Member, Aflalo Guimarães, Managing Director of The Invus Group, Zero’s largest investor. “We are grateful to Neal and will continue to rely on his vision and counsel.” Zero Motorcycles is also a corporate sponsor of Neal’s entry into the competition.
Zero Motorcycles has added several industry veterans to its management team over the past year and is well positioned to execute the vision with which Neal launched the company. “Founding Zero was exciting, fun and a lot of hard work. At this point, I think it is well established. I’m extremely proud of the team we’ve assembled to carry Zero into the future. I can now move on to pursuing the dream of building a human powered flying machine,” stated Neal.

About Zero Motorcycles
Zero Motorcycles is committed to transforming the motorcycling experience by bringing to market highly innovative electric motorcycles that offer exceptional value and performance. Zero is powered by innovation, driven by passion, guided by integrity and measured by results. Through extensive research, insight and experience, Zero combines the art and science of motorcycle development to create and manufacture products that excite consumers and inspire brand loyalty. Zero is determined to be the preeminent global electric motorcycle company.