Buckinghamshire-based Volt (voltbikes.co.uk), a leading British electric bicycle manufacturer, has opened a new factory in Milton Keynes and plans to manufacture up to 25,000 electric bikes a year, according to a report in the Milton Keynes Citizen. The company, which celebrates its tenth birthday this year, says the 20,000ft² manufacturing plant will create around 30 new jobs.

It is part of Volt's plan to reshore manufacturing from overseas and service the fast-growing domestic e-bike market — sales have soared over the last decade.

James Metcalfe, the company's co-founder, said: “We are very proud to fully commit Volt to the UK and excited to be part of British manufacturing's resurgence.

“It has been a fantastic achievement to get the space up and running despite the added burden placed on our teams during the current COVID-19 restrictions.

“They have faced-up to the daunting challenge of adapting facilities and processes to ensure that we keep our people and customers safe, while realising our dream of delivering a cutting-edge e-bike factory.”

E-bike sellers, and cycle traders in general, have reported a huge rise in sales since governments world-wide imposed lockdown measures to try and contain the spread of the coronavirus.

Mr Metcalfe started the firm with his brother Lyle in 2010 in Buckinghamshire and since then, its sales have boomed in line with the wider e-bike industry. It is now based out of a London Bridge showroom, and has a network of over 100 UK dealers.