The Chinese Segway and e-scooter specialist has celebrated the landmark occasion with a special ceremony in Beijing.

“Now that the milestone of 10 million units has been reached, the company will continue to improve product life and service, while continuing in its efforts to further promote the development of the industry,” said Segway-Ninebot President and CTO Chen Zhongyuan.

“Segway-Ninebot’s vision, to serve more than one billion people with innovative short-distance transportation and robotic products, is the original intent and driving force of our e-scooter portfolio. Electric scooters are also the inevitable choice for us to expand the tool categories and build out the portfolio in short-distance travel between 2 and 20 kilometers,” Zhongyuan added.

The company has production facilities in Changzhou and Shenzhen, with annual production capacity of smart e-scooters reaching 4 million units, ensuring stable product supply to global markets.

The Segway Super Scooter GT series, a product in the electric scooter category released in March, was also showcased at the event. The Segway Super Scooter GT series (GT 1 and GT2) have built a reputation as the supercar of the electric scooter world, according to Segway-Ninebot, with a top speed of 37.3 mph (in US market) and 43.5 mph respectively.

The GT1 hits 30 mph from zero in 7.5 seconds, while the GT2 does so in just 3.9 seconds. These are not only more than enviable numbers for the daily commute, but also more than meet the expectations of players seeking an extreme experience with their ride, the company adds.

Market growing steadily

The electric scooter market surged tenfold in the European and American markets in 2017 and has continued growing steadily since then. Data from Puyallup, WA-based report publisher QYResearch shows that the global production of electric scooters had reached 4.25 million as of the end of 2020. From 2017 to 2020, Segway-Ninebot’s compound revenue growth rate for e-scooters rose to 132.22%.

According to GfK, from January 2019 to February 2020, Segway-Ninebot ranked first in the electric scooter markets of Germany, Italy, Spain and other major European countries, while most shared electric scooter operators signed deals with the company as the exclusive or first choice supplier. Now, Segway-Ninebot has become a world-leading supplier of shared micro-mobility solutions by working closely with Spin, Voi and other likeminded players.

The company has developed a B2B2C business model, and has jointly launched customised smart electric scooters with several auto brands including Mercedes-Benz AMG, Audi Seat and Maserati to solve the “last mile” of transportation problem, the company said.

Meanwhile, Segway-Ninebot is also aggressively developing new products to meet the differentiated expectations of riders with “diversified” product strategies. Three categories, consisting of nine series, were created to meet the requirements for short commutes (3-30km), long commutes (30-60km) and high-performance rides (60-100km). The nine series include the light and fashionable E series, the “comfort-first”, science-driven F series, and the reliable and practical G series, among others.

Innovation and development

In terms of innovation, the company is looking at new technologies and adjusting its approach based on the latest tech and scientific advancements. In a move to deliver a better cycling experience to riders, Segway-Ninebot co-developed vacuum inflatable tyres with several partners by leveraging i-Sealing technology.

The resulting tyre is said to not only deliver higher durability and safety, but is also immune to blowouts or leaks even when driving over an upright nail. Furthermore, the company’s e-scooters deploy a steel-pipe frame for higher stability and reliability. A proprietary battery safety management system provides double protection against short-circuits, over-current, overcharging and over-discharging in tandem with other safety features, assuring the safe operation of the batteries.

The manufacturer added that since Ninebot acquired Segway, the power of the brand has been further enhanced, while the global product portfolio has been expanded, with each brand benefitting from being able to share resources. Through this sharing process, the company says it has also achieved cost control, joint development, massive supply and agile response through supply chain optimisation and increased product reliability while reducing costs.

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