Moovit and Spin launch smart mobility in European cities

  • August 16, 2021
  • Steve Rogerson

Ford micromobility subsidiary Spin and Moovit, an Intel-owned mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) provider, are bringing smart mobility to cities in three European countries.

This partnership helps users find Spin e-scooters in the free Moovit app for more sustainable and fun mobility alternatives to cars to get around efficiently. The feature is available in 23 cities in the UK, Spain and Germany.

As Covid restrictions are easing in Europe, there is a growing need for various means of transport for people who are slowly returning to being out and about, including commuting to work and running errands. Moovit users can now opt to complete the first and last kilometre of their journeys with Spin e-scooters that offer a Covid-safe way of getting around instead of driving private cars.

Spin’s recent rider survey showed that 82% of its riders in the UK choose to use e-scooters for short journeys instead of driving alone at least once since the launch of the scheme, reducing the number of cars on the road in the area and decreasing carbon emissions across the region.

Israeli firm Moovit, which has served over a billion urban users around the world in 112 countries, offers its service in 1500 cities across Europe and the Middle East, and Spin, available in more than 20 cities in Europe, will enable Moovit users to embrace multi-modality and discover Spin scooters in the Moovit app to connect with public transport.

Moovit will show its users in real time where a Spin e-scooter is available nearby, including how long it will take to walk there, as well as battery range. Users will then be directed to the Spin app to hire the e-scooter and pay for it.

“We want more people to integrate Spin e-scooters into their daily journeys, be it commuting, running errands or for leisure because we know that this socially-distanced means of transport has the potential to replace solo car rides on short journeys and consequently to reduce congestion and improve air quality,”said Steve Pyer, Spin country manager for UK and Ireland. “By showing availability in the Moovit app, it makes it even easier for new users to discover public hire e-scooters and for existing users to become truly multi-modal travellers.”

Yovav Meydad, Moovit’s marketing officer, added: “Spin has become a desired mobility option for many people in Europe and we are excited to partner with them as cities move once again and commuters begin their return from Covid-19. Whether using Spin e-scooters for short trips or combining them with public transport, this partnership furthers our mission of making it easier to rely less on private cars and moving more freely through some of the most congested cities.”

Moovit users can experience Spin in the following countries:

  • Germany: Bonn, Brühl, Castrop-Rauxel, Dortmund, Duisburg, Essen, Frechen, Gelsenkirchen, Hennef, Herne, Lohmar, Mülheim, Neuss, Recklinghausen, Troisdorf and Wesseling
  • UK: Basildon, Chelmsford, Clacton-on-Sea, Colchester and Milton Keynes
  • Spain: Madrid and Tarragona

Moovit can be downloaded on the App Store and Google Play.

Moovit was acquired by Intel in 2020 to join forces with Mobileye and advance its MaaS strategy. Its iOS, Android and web apps guide people in getting around town using any mode of transport. Introduced in 2012, it serves over 950 million users in more than 3400 cities across 112 countries.

Moovit amasses up to six billion anonymous data points a day to add to the world’s largest repository of transit and urban mobility data. For governments, cities, transit agencies and private companies, Moovit offers AI-powered MaaS covering planning, operations and optimisation with value in reducing congestion, growing ridership, and increasing efficiency and asset use. Companies such as Microsoft, Uber and Cubic have partnered with Moovit to power their mobility offerings.

Spin is the micromobility unit of Ford, operating electric bikes and electric scooters in North American and European cities and campuses. Spin launched the first-ever stationless bike share programme in the USA and was instrumental in crafting a mobility permitting system that is used around the world.