How to predict the future of micromobility when the sector is evolving so rapidly? We asked the top experts from leading companies in the industry to share their opinions and predictions regarding the trends we can expect to see developing in 2024. From Knot to Poppy, we gathered their insights on the key developments in our ever-changing sector: from the crucial role of repairs to the emergence of integrated solutions, strategic partnerships with local governments, and more.
Trend 1: The collaboration between public transport and micromobility
Meanwhile, car prices, both new and used, skyrocketed. As remote work reduced our need to commute, many were forced to question car ownership for the first time in their lives. Local authorities used this momentum to implement ambitious measures to discourage private car use. They also increased the pressure on companies and individuals to shift towards electric vehicles, causing yet another series of challenges for car owners, particularly for those without a garage.
In coming years this trend will only be accentuated by the arrival of Gen-Z in the workforce. Their strong inclination towards shared mobility, like e-scooters, underscores a cultural shift. More and more, we value the convenience and sustainability of “access over ownership”. At Poppy, we’ve clearly seen this trend materialize as we tripled the rental volumes of our shared cars over the course of 2023. And among our users who still own a car, 50% told us they’re planning to get rid of it in 2024.
Trend 2: Circularity to play a significant part in 2024
Currently the CEO and Lead Engineer at Byqee, Burak Işık is changing the dynamics of the e-mobility industry. Due to a background in engineering, Burak knows the technicalities of how e-bikes operate, and now Byqee is manufacturing kits that convert normal bikes into fully functional e-bikes.
We left behind a challenging 2023. It was like a payback for the "COVID Bike Boom" period experienced in the Micromobility market between 2020 and 2022. During this difficult time, we unfortunately received news that many respected e-bike manufacturers had to halt their operations. Newborn companies with large production and operation volumes requiring relatively large investments could not muster enough runway strength to survive the period.
However, business models serving the circular economy, such as refurbishing and conversion, managed to navigate through this period with less damage by at least continuing their operations. The main reasons for this include the ability of startups with these business models to operate with more flexible CoG budgets and the option to utilize existing resources under inflationary conditions appearing more attractive from the end-user perspective.
As a startup offering a conversion product, Byqee closed this challenging year with a 67% increase in sales volume compared to the previous year. The growth rate of the micro-mobility market is expected to return to an aggressive stance by 2025. Although 2024 seems to pose another challenge for the micro-mobility market, I believe that business models based on the circular economy will increase their market share and grow. It's certain that we will see a very exciting 2024 under any circumstances!
Burak Işık, CEO and Lead Engineer at Byqee
Trend 3: The Race For Profitability
Arthur Keller is the CEO and Co-Founder of KNOT, who has been at the forefront of innovating urban mobility since 2016. His leadership and strategic vision have been pivotal in developing KNOT into a leading provider of compact transportation solutions tailored to solve the last-mile problem for cities and businesses.
In their quest for profitability, micro-mobility companies are making changes to their organizations and operations. The industry is becoming more competitive, with only the financially strong surviving. It becomes harder to get investments from VCs, therefore to stay in the game, companies are joining forces and getting smarter in their operations.
There's a new emphasis on building stronger relationships with suppliers by focusing on quality rather than just quantity. This means being more selective about the technology and services they use. At the same time, some companies are cutting jobs and reducing their spending to stay afloat. The market is overcrowded, which has made it difficult for some companies to turn a profit, leading to the bankruptcies of well-known companies in 2023. To deal with this, big players are either partnering up (like Dott and Tier) or coming together in a mutual battle (like Lime and Voi are doing to oppose a decision by the city of Brussels). These strategies are aimed at winning the markets and finding reliable income in today's uncertain economic reality. 2024 will be about consolidation and strategic partnerships to get more profits. As companies continue to prioritize profitability, there will likely be an increase in mergers and collaborations among key players. This could lead to a more mature and streamlined market, with fewer but stronger companies dominating the space.
Arthur Keller,CEO at KNOT
Trend 4: Leading Sustainable Micromobility in 2024
Passionate about the technological revolution happening around mobility, urbanization, sustainability and smart-cities, Evrim Taskiran is currently fully dedicated to scaling the next generation of Micro-Mobility after-sales services.
Amidst tightening market and financial conditions in 2023, the micromobility sector in 2024 is increasingly turning towards sustainability and efficiency as core business imperatives. As a leading repair and maintenance company collaborating with producers, fleet operators, insurance firms, and major retail chains, we are at the forefront of promoting circular economy principles within the industry. Our focus on repair, maintenance, and refurbishment activities is essential in extending the lifecycle of mobility devices, thereby minimizing waste and reducing the need for new raw materials.
This commitment to circularity is not only a response to environmental concerns but also a strategic adaptation to the current economic climate. By enhancing the durability and longevity of existing products through skilled refurbishment and timely repairs, we help our partners avoid costly replacements and maintain continuous service. Our approach helps stabilize the micro-mobility market and facilitates the transition towards more sustainable transportation options.
In 2024, as Cyclecure, we will accelerate our refurbishment efforts and expand our offerings to include B2C consumers, in addition to our traditional B2B clients. This extension will allow individual consumers to buy more affordable and sustainable refurbished e-mobility devices, while directly benefiting from our expertise on after-sales services.
Evrim Taskiran, Founder and CEO of Cyclecure (formerly STEPfix)
Trend 5: Consumer Trends: Brand Credibility, Support, Affordability
Christopher Heathcote-Rey is the Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer of Apollo Scooters, one of the leading electric scooter manufacturers in North America. Born and raised in Mauritius, with a contagious enthusiasm for emobility and people, Chris and his co-founder Maciek started Apollo with a mission to get cars off the streets, one scooter at a time.
In 2024, the current trends we at Apollo Scooters are seeing for 2024 among both existing and potential customers centers on brand credibility, repair support, and affordability. With diminished disposable income in North America due to high inflation and interest rates, consumers are shifting from impulsive purchases to more informed and educated decisions.
Brand credibility is paramount, with customers prioritizing product quality, product reviews, and referrals. They explore various sources, including our website, Trustpilot, and unbiased review platforms like CNET, Wired, and Electric Scooter Guide. This shift is evident in our expansion into 100+ Best Buy stores, where sales surged as customers prefer the assurance of buying in a physical store.
Support infrastructure is critical as the market transitions from early adopters to a broader consumer base. Customers seek products requiring minimal maintenance, leading us to develop the Mach 1 controller for over-the-air self-diagnosis, resulting in a 41% self-resolution rate. With 15+ repair centers across the US (and a big expansion announcement coming for 2024 on our end), customers feel confident in their purchase when the assistance is readily available.
The percentage of customers financing scooters shifted from 15% in 2020 to over 35% in 2023 which underscores the importance of flexible payment plans. Offering value at an affordable price, exemplified by the launch of the Apollo Go, is crucial. However, without flexible payment options, customers may look elsewhere to avoid hefty upfront costs.
Christopher Heathcote-Rey, Co-Founder and CGO at Apollo Scooters
Trend 6: Elevating Sustainable Mobility
Laurens Verbeke, with years of expertise in micromobility, helped start JOULE in 2017. As a Co-Founder, he's dedicated to advancing sustainable urban travel solutions, guiding the company's growth and innovation in the industry.
Let’s put ‘Sustainable’ in ‘Sustainable mobility’.
Wait. Don’t get me wrong. Putting people on the bike and enabling them to swap their company car for an electric bike is already a big step forward in pushing sustainable mobility.
However, at Joule we expect that our clients will even go for the extra mile in 2024. We see an increasing interest in how a bicycle is produced, how it could be sustainably maintained, what is the spare-part availability and what will happen after the leasing period. A trend we’re more than happy to welcome.
Flexible leasing periods, 2nd (and even 3rd lifetime) leasing and the impact of a sufficient service budget in a leasing package should enable to make the bike even more sustainable in 2024.
Laurens Verbeke, Co-founder of Joule
Trend 7: Shifting Urban Transportation Trends
Industrial Designer turned Entrepreneur, Jean Baptiste Goetgheluck is the Co-Founder and designer at Bilmo. His focus is on pioneering sustainable and innovative designs that set the company apart.
The last 10 years, we have witnessed a swift growth of bike commutes and a reduction of car usage in urban areas.
To save time and gain efficiency, professionals are now replacing their vans with cargo bikes in densely populated areas. By doing so, they avoid traffic jams, parking tickets, reduce their fleet maintenance costs while cutting CO2 emissions.
New regulations coming up will foster the usage of utility bikes even more. By 2035, Brussels region will ban all polluting vehicles. Leading the movement, 29 cities in the Nederland will impose Zero Emission Zones as early as 2025!
To help companies adapt and benefit from these changes, BILMO is developing utility bike trailers for food and parcel delivery, maintenance operations, garbage collection and gardening. Our trailers have 4 times the volume of a cargo bike and carry up to 200kg. Whatever you need to deliver, we can offer a solution for your business.
Jean Baptiste Goetgheluck, Entrepreneur - Co-founder and Designer at BILMO
Trend 8: Renewable energy sources
Working at Ahooga since 2021, Gokce Dugru is now their Chief Executive Officer. Professional with a very positive hands-on and can-do attitude, she is always eager to learn and develop while motivating a team, working hard, and having fun.
City commuting has totally shifted gears – it's not just the bike fanatics anymore. Over the last decade of serving urban riders, our customer base has expanded to include diverse demographics such as families, young professionals, and executives. They seek to enhance their quality of life while minimizing environmental impact. Factors like easy maintenance, convenient storage, and e-assist have crawled up the priorities list for buyers.
Keeping a finger on the pulse of urban life is essential. Changes in residential spaces, lifestyle dynamics, and employment trends significantly influence consumers' choices in transportation. As we transition into a new era of commuting, the industry must proactively support and streamline this shift. This year, we are releasing Max – a bike we engineered in-house as the ultimate solution to urban mobility. With user feedback, data and trend analysis, we designed this adaptable little jewel to respond to all the new challenges of mobility – We look forward to welcoming new riders to experience the benefits of Max.
Gokce Dogru, CEO at Ahooga
Trend 9: Merging Digital Convenience with Local Support in the E-Bike Market
Janosch Nellen recently transitioned to the role of Business Development Director at BZEN Bikes just a month ago, after proving his mettle as a Customer Experience Manager within the same company. In his new position, he leverages his in-depth knowledge of customer relations to shape business strategies that aim to broaden the company's horizons and cement its standing in the urban cycling market.
There is a growing emphasis on quality in both products and services in order to ensure more sustainable e-bike use.
At BZEN Bikes, we prioritize this commitment, by bridging the gap between digital convenience and hands-on support. Sustainability in e-bikes is ensured not just by initial design but also by long-term maintenance and repairability.
Our use of high-quality components and partnerships with reputable brands and local service providers reflect this dedication. Our collaboration with Cyclecure further reinforces our commitment to quality and service.
By seamlessly integrating online convenience with localized support, we offer customers the best of both worlds. This approach ensures that in an increasingly digital landscape, personalized care and tangible assistance remain paramount.
Janosch Nellen, Business Development Director at BZEN
Trend 10: Revolutionizing Urban Mobility
Building towards tomorrow's urban mobility, Armand Chariot is the Founder of Yoda. He is an Entrepreneur with a passion for e-mobility, urban construction and sustainable solutions.
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It is widely recognized that mobility must be reimagined now more than ever to address the significant challenges of our century. There is a strong commitment to developing optimal solutions for urban trips that benefit both people and the planet. While several subscription companies have rapidly expanded their services in recent years, many struggle with high operating costs. These companies often focus on short-term B2C rentals and do not manufacture their own vehicles, which may not lead to success. Moreover, the e-bike subscription industry primarily competes on price, with actors setting aggressive prices that are not sustainable.
Firstly, we believe that instead of the conventional monthly subscription approach, we advocate for a 12-month long-term rental model tailored for B2B customers. This allows companies to reduce churn rate and build a premium relationship with their customers. Moreover, custom-made vehicle development is crucial for survival. Our e-mobylettes at Yoda aren't just robust and lightweight vehicles; they are an ecosystem of interchangeable components designed to streamline the construction, assembly, and maintenance of our light electric vehicles (EVs) within urban environments.
Urban mobility is obviously not an easy industry. But 2024 more than ever is the time for bold teams that aren’t afraid of hard work, willing to reconsider the entire value chain of an urban e-mobility company. A lot of money and resources have been wasted in easy-to-launch businesses with no intellectual property and Chinese vehicles. The time has come for 2.0 companies willing to build real profitable businesses at a price that reflects their real USP.
Armand Chariot, Founder of Yoda
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