The Return (2/3)
After receiving several offers from interested parties, Safar settled on a family-owned business in Utah to re-launch Solex sales in the United States. He selected Matthews & Associates of Fruit Heights to be its exclusive U.S. distributor; the contract was signed by representatives from both parties at the Solex manufacturing plant in Hungary on 24 March 1998. "We are happy and proud to announce the appointment of Matthews & Associates", said Safar. "We have had great success with the Solex bicycle in Europe, and we expect nothing less in the United States."


Matthews & Associates of Fruit Heights will be doing business as VeloCruz. Heading up VeloCruz is President and CEO Tommie G. Matthews and Managing Director Spencer R. Matthews "Anyone who sees the Solex becomes an instant fan", says Tommie Matthews. "And those fans will become our customers." Tommie became a fan of the Solex in 1967, when he and his family were living in Western Samoa. In the absence of a car, the French moped provided the family with reliable transportation. "I would ride with one child on the front, and two behind me," he says, "and we would ride all the way around that island." Upon returning to the United States, Tommie continued to enjoy the Solex, and it became a fixture at each family get-together. Over the years, Tommie's interest in the French bicycle with the emergency engine led him to correspond with the different companies that produced it. Finally when Mr. Safar mentioned the company's interest in setting up a U.S. distributor, Tommie knew he was the man for the job. Spencer Matthews will manage the day-to-day operations of VeloCruz. It goes without saying that Spencer, 22, grew up riding the Solex. And from early on he shared his fathers love of the Solex and he is excited at the prospect of making the bike as popular in the United States as it is in Europe. Spencer has always been an entrepreneur at heart, owning and operating several business on his own and with his family members.

After personally touring the Solex manufacturing facility, both Tommie and Spencer are positive that supply will be able to keep up with demand. And with that confidence, the two have begun setting up a dealer network that will stretch from coast to coast, and allow the company to reach markets such as recreational vehicle, vacation and resort that cry out for a product like the motorized bicycle. For dealer information please contact Spencer at 800.393.7101.

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VeloCruz
PO Box 902021
Sandy, UT 84090
info@velocruz.com
T: 1-800-393-7101
F: 1-801-593-6790