So many e-scooter startups have popped up throughout Europe in the past year, it’s been hard to keep track. As we previously noted, their emergence carries both perks and drawbacks.
We covered Wind Mobility’s initial raise of €19.2 million back in November, and the startup earned a spot on our list of our 10 cleantechs to look out for in 2019, because unlike most other e-scooter companies, it uses replaceable batteries, so the scooters don’t have to be transported and charged at night, reducing CO2 emissions.
Today, the Berlin-based e-scooter startup announced that it has raised a further €45 million in funding from existing investors to propel its international growth.
“This latest round of investment will play a pivotal role in the future of Wind Mobility, as well as the future of e-scooters in the wider mobility ecosystem,” said Eric Wang, founder of Wind Mobility. “Our focus is on unit economics, and hardware and sustainability is one of the factors that sets us apart. We are very excited about the micro mobility and the long term potential of the industry.”
Wind, which has operations throughout Europe and Asia, employs over 120 people worldwide, including at its own R&D center in China. The company offers its services in over 20 cities across the globe including in Germany, France, Spain, Israel, Austria, Portugal, Demark, Korea and Japan.
Originally founded in 2017 as a bike sharing company in Frankfurt, Germany, the startup plans to become profitable in all cities in which it operates, and focus on sustainable growth. The new round of investment will allow Wind to continue expanding the firm’s operations in cities throughout Asia and Europe, and roll out its third generation of scooter.
After eight months of development, the Wind scooter has been redesigned from the ground up. Key features including smart swappable battery solution, best-in-class battery life with the ability to drive 65km – 80km between charges. Along with the new scooter, Wind will soon be unveiling a new brand identity to enhance its visual appeal to current and future customers.
“We have already set ourselves apart from other mobility companies by focusing heavily on safety, great riding experience, and providing delightful customer service – this new hardware will turbocharge our operational efficiency, and allow us to deliver a better ride to customers,” said Matt Turzo, COO for the EMEA region.
