The Minsk Motorcycle Corporation, which is also known as Motovelo Corp, is a producer of bicycles and motorcycles in the capital of Belarus - Minsk and was founded in 1945.
At first the company produced a two-stroke 125 cc motorcycle that was based on a pre Second World War design. This model from the Minsk Motorcycle Corporation was imported into the United Kingdom by Neval Motorcycles under the name of "Neval".
The plant manufactures both motorcycles and bicycles of which 70 percent of their bicycles are exported throughout Russia and 90 percent of their motorcycles are exported to countries like Germany, Mexico, Turkey, UK, Vietnam, France, USA and Iran.
In the 1990's, the Minsk Motorcycle Corporation was privatised and most of the company's shares were divided amongst the workers. Over the last few years the Minsk Motorcycle Corporation has been in decline and is almost near bankruptcy due to the rapid increase of steel prices from Russia since 2003. The Minsk Motorcycle Corporation also lost their ability to export to Vietnam who was a major importer of the Minsk Motorcycle Corporation, thanks to a recent increase of import duties to 40 percent which has forced the Minsk Motorcycle Corporation to lose to cheaper Chinese manufacturers.
The Minsk Motorcycle Corporation still produces and exports their motorcycles from their plant in Minsk.
Original Authors: Nicholas
Edit Update Authors: M.A.Harris
Updated On: 03/06/2008
