DETROIT (AP) — A Detroit bike manufacturer is expected to bring Schwinn production back to the U.S. later this month as workers begin assembling limited copies of the brand’s classic 1965 Collegiate bike.
In a partnership with Schwinn, an American brand that traces its lineage to 1895 in Chicago, Detroit Bikes LLC is building 500 bikes of the revived Schwinn model that debuted in 1965, according to The Detroit News.
“This is the first time Schwinns have been manufactured in the U.S. in a long time,” said Zak Pashak, owner and founder of Detroit Bikes. “Manufacturing has been decreasing in the U.S., and this is a big step to change that. We’re going to need to step up our game for this one. But we’re ready to take on the challenge.”
The Schwinn Collegiate to be produced in Detroit is intended to reflect “the leisurely aesthetic evoked by the 1965 version”, according to Ryan Birkicht, senior communications manager at Schwinn Bikes. The bikes will be painted in classic Campus Green.
The price will be higher than other Schwinn models, expected at $998 each. They will be available to purchase as early as August on Walmart’s website, Birkicht said.
“Walmart is our No. 1 retailer,” he said.
As demand for all bikes and other outdoor equipment is booming amid pandemic restrictions, Detroit Bikes is eager to bring at least a part of the bicycle manufacturing industry back to domestic soil.