a16z Backs NYC Startup That Makes Cyberpunk Mopeds
Plus, Yamaha is shuttering e-bike sales in North America.
Welcome to the Micromobility Newsletter, your weekly digest of important events and industry news in the world of personal transportation.
Today’s newsletter is brought to you by… S-E-A
Visiting the Micromobility America conference next week? S-E-A will be in attendance and ready to answer questions about the full capability and customization options available on dynamometer products. Testing scooters, skateboards, unicycles, e-bikes, and more on one testing rig can help provide the data needed to improve product safety, longevity, and performance without taking up precious building space. Visit them at Booth #403. Learn more here.
What You Need to Know Today
⚡️ Can you believe Micromobility America is only 1 week away? If you haven’t RSVP’d yet, it’s not too late to grab a spot. In fact, this week all-access passes to our SoCal tradeshow are on sale by over $700. Gain access to two jam-packed days of programming with the industry’s top brass (check out the full program) and demos with leading brands (Aventon, Lectric, Rad Power Bikes, Ryvid, Land, VMAX, and so many more) — register now.
PS We’re also looking for a handful of volunteers to assist with making sure the event runs smoothly exchange for a free ticket. Want to go behind the scenes with us? Get in touch.
If you’re in the US, Election Day is here. And to help voters get to the polls, Lime, Bird, Spin, and other mobility service providers are offering free or discounted rides today.
Infinite Machine, an NYC startup that makes Cybertruck-esque PEVs for urban commuters, has closed a $9M seed round led by Andreessen Horowitz’s American Dynamism team. The investment will help Infinite Machine ramp up production of the $10,000 “launch edition” of its P1 moped. Initial deliveries are expected to begin next year.
Curious about Infinite Machine’s backstory? Watch our podcast interview with co-founders Joseph and Eddie Cohen from last year, in which we discuss their mission to reimagine the standard look of two-wheel EVs.
Vanguard has revised Ola’s valuation to around $2B. The Indian ride-hail giant, which is known in micromobility circles for its e-moped subsidiary, Ola Electric, saw its valuation peak at $7.3B in late 2021.
Indian e-moped maker Ather Energy may be benefiting from Ola’s recent troubles. Last month the company enjoyed its highest-ever monthly sales, moving approximately 20,000 units.
Yamaha is pulling out of the North American e-bike market at the end of this year. With its hybrid approach of selling through both D2C channels and third-party dealers, Yamaha’s premium prices proved to be a roadblock for value-conscious US consumers.
Comodule has launched new e-bike security features, including “Share My Bike” for digital access sharing and instant theft alerts that notify users of suspicious movement. If stolen, users can report it through the app, and Comodule’s recovery partner FRIS will attempt to retrieve the bike within 48 hours.
Since 2022, Denver’s e-bike rebate program has enjoyed incredible success—issuing close to 15,000 vouchers—yet the city’s incomplete bike infrastructure could be an Achilles heel for long-term adoption.
E-bike manufacturer Flyer is expecting to cut 150 jobs at its Switzerland facility in response to continued market correction from the pandemic. ZEG, the bicycle-purchasing cooperative that owns Flyer, is planning to move production abroad.
The UK government is budgeting £100M to build new walking and cycling infrastructure.
Mixed signals in bike-land: Fox Factory’s cycling-related sales were up 37% in Q3, while Shimano has brought in 12% less cycling-related revenue so far this year.
Indian ride-hailing platform Rapido will partner with IndoFast to deploy 10,000 Piaggio 3-wheeler EVs across India. The Piaggio vehicles will be powered by 300 SUN Mobility battery-swapping stations in Bangalore and Hyderabad.
Bay Wheels, the Bay Area’s bikeshare program operated by Lyft, has seen a surge in usage over the last 18 months, with ridership reaching an all-time high in the first 9 months of 2024, compared to previous years.
Used bike seller The Pro’s Closet will re-open after being purchased by private investment firm Elshair Companies.
Bingo Technologies announced a new “one battery, any vehicle” swapping solution for last-mile delivery and ride-hail providers.
Does your work involve managing fleets of e-bikes, e-scooters, and the like? This interesting new whitepaper discusses the advantages of combining GNSS modules with a broad range of connectivity options (antenna, RTK correction services, design review) into a “one-stop-shop” solution that could transform your high-precision IoT projects.
Download the whitepaper for your chance to enter to win a free ticket to Micromobility America next month in Southern California. We’re giving away a free ticket each week to one lucky winner.
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