6 years of Voi: Celebrating another year of micromobility magic

We at Voi are buzzing with excitement as we mark our 6th anniversary since our coral red e-scooters first hit the streets of Stockholm. As the pioneers of European micromobility, we’ve even dubbed our anniversary (August 25) the “International Day of Micromobility”. So grab your helmets and hop on - we’re taking you on a ride through one of our most exhilarating years yet!

Riding safely into the future

The past 12 months have been nothing short of a rollercoaster for Voi, packed with twists, turns, and triumphs. Alongside our ever-growing community of riders, we continue to reshape urban mobility with each trip, helping to create cities that are truly made for living.

In May, a rider in Seville took our 250 millionth (!) ride, marking a major milestone in our journey. Some of those quarter of a billion rides may have been on our newly launched vehicles, such as the sleek Voiager 7 or the adventure-ready Explorer 3 e-bike, which most recently hit the streets of Oxford.

Riding e-scooters or e-bikes is a great way to explore the city with friends and family, and safety is always our top priority. That’s why we introduced the group rides feature, allowing one rider to unlock up to five e-scooters from a single account. It’s a fun and safe way to share the Voi experience - without the risks of tandem riding.

We’ve also launched the RideSafe Academy, an open-to-all online learning platform that builds on our earlier success with RideLikeVoila, the world’s first e-scooter traffic school. RideSafe Academy equips riders with essential knowledge on safe riding, local traffic rules, and responsible parking. Whether you’re new to micromobility or a seasoned pro, there’s always something valuable to learn.

Local wins that made us proud

Over the past year, we’ve achieved remarkable milestones that underscore our impact on the communities we serve. In Germany, our riders shattered records during public transport strikes, with 1 March 2024 setting a new high for the most rides in a single day. This is proof that when the going gets tough, Voi keeps cities moving. The fact that we racked up 100 million rides in Germany not long after is definitely partly thanks to this.

In Stockholm, we saw a regulatory breakthrough in May, as the city secured one of Europe’s most forward-thinking frameworks for shared micromobility. This new regulation allows the traffic office to select operators based on seven tangible performance criteria, streamlining the market and reducing the number of operators to just three. As a result, Voi saw a 52% increase in rides over the summer months.

Meanwhile, the friendly rivalry between Oslo and Stockholm continues to heat up, with both cities surpassing 20 million rides respectively in the past year. While both Nordic capitals are strong contenders for the title of Micromobility Capital of Europe, Oslo may have the edge, thanks to its deep integration with Ruter, the local public transport provider. This seamless integration allows residents to book public transport and shared mobility services through one app, facilitating greener and more connected travel.

In Switzerland, we celebrated another significant milestone by becoming the sole operator in Bern, a testament to our commitment to delivering reliable and efficient micromobility solutions tailored to local needs.

Tenders and New City Launches

This year, we’ve proven that Voi has the right formula to be the top micromobility partner for cities across Europe. Our most recent tender wins include cities and regions like Antwerp (BE), Bergen (NO), Kristiansand (NO), Odense (DK), Oslo (NO), Siegburg (DE), Skaun & Oakland (NO), Solent (UK), and Turin (IT).

We’ve also expanded our presence in new cities. On 25 September 2023, we deployed our first vehicles in one of the most sought-after e-scooter trials in the UK: London. Our entry into London, alongside launches in cities like Wuppertal (DE), Isle of Wight (UK) and Partille (SE), marks another step forward in our mission to make micromobility accessible to even more people.

Recent studies that highlight the progress and impact of micromobility

International Transport Forum (ITF) published two reports earlier this year. “Safer Micromobility” concluded major improvements in micromobility safety, with a 26% decrease in shared micromobility risks. In “Greener Micromobility”, ITF reported that the climate footprint of shared e-scooters has dropped by over 40% since 2020, now rivaling that of zero-emission public transport.

Chalmers University of Technology released a new report in April which found that rental e-scooters, like Voi’s, are safer than private ones due to better design and safety features.

A new study from K2 - Sweden’s national center for public transport - revealed that one in three e-scooter rides connect to public transportation. The study analyzed traffic patterns in over 120 cities across Europe.

In line with these advancements, we released our first Sustainability Report with reference to the GRI standards in December 2023, outlining our goals and commitment to transparency as we grow. With 12 countries and over 900 employees, Voi remains dedicated to creating safer, greener cities.

Building a resilient future

This year has been a testament to Voi’s growing financial stability and resilience. We kicked off 2024 by raising $25 million in an oversubscribed financing round, reinforcing investor confidence in our vision and operations. Additionally, we secured additional debt financing to ensure that our fleet continues to meet the demands of our expanding rider base.

Our financial health has never been stronger. Our 2023 annual report revealed a significant reduction in losses by a third, and as of March 2024, we achieved a major milestone by reaching EBITDA profitability on the last 12 months basis - a first in our company’s history. These accomplishments underscore our commitment to sustainable growth and our ability to adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing and competitive environment.

The road ahead

As we zoom into our 7th year, we’re more committed than ever to making cities more liveable, one ride at a time. Thank you to our incredible riders, cities, partners, investors and global team for making this journey possible. Here’s to another year of transforming urban mobility - and to the millions of rides to come.

Happy International Day of Micromobility!