Micro Mobility Systems
 | |
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Sporting goods, toys, electric vehicles |
| Founded | 1996[1] |
| Founder | Wim Ouboter[2] |
| Headquarters | , Switzerland |
| Key people | Wim Ouboter (CEO) |
| Revenue | CHF 60 million (financial year 2014)[3] |
Number of employees | 57 (September 2015)[4] |
| Website | www |
Micro Mobility Systems (Micro) is a Swiss family-run company that develops and markets micro-mobility products, including scooters and kickboards for children and adults. It has also developed the electric vehicle Microlino. The company was founded in 1996.
History
[edit]Wim Ouboter developed the kick scooter in Zürich in 1990 as a short-distance, last-mile transport solution for adults.[5][6] His early scooters were collapsible and designed for adult use.[6]
Micro Mobility Systems was founded in 1996.[6][7] In 1998, U.S. sports company K2 agreed to market the kickboard.[8] Ouboter also partnered with JD.com's bicycle unit in China for production, and sales began in Japan in 1999.[6] Micro scooters were unveiled at an international show in 1999.[8] By 2001, Micro Mobility Systems had sold 2 million non-motorized scooters.[7]
Micro first electrified its scooters in 2013.[6] In 2016, the company announced the Microlino, a compact electric car inspired by the BMW Isetta, and showed a prototype at the Geneva Motor Show.[6]
In 2020, Fast Company ranked Micro Mobility Systems fifth on its list of the most innovative companies in Europe.[9] Also in 2020, Mercedes-Benz partnered with Micro to create a co-branded electric scooter.[10]
Company overview
[edit]Micro Mobility Systems is headquartered in Küsnacht, near Zürich.[8][11] Founder Wim Ouboter is chief executive of the company.[12][13] His wife, Janine, runs the finances,[14] and Ouboter works with his sons Merlin and Oliver, who are part of the management board.[11] Production and distribution are outsourced; the company focuses on product development, marketing, and order processing and shipping.[8] Micro Mobility Systems is listed as a member of 1% for the Planet.[15]
Products
[edit]Scooters
[edit]Micro's product line includes two- and three-wheeled scooters for children and adults.[6] The scooter range includes models such as the Micro Mini and Micro Maxi for children and the foldable Micro Sprite.[16]
Microlino
[edit]The Microlino is a compact electric vehicle developed by Micro Mobility Systems and inspired by the BMW Isetta.[6][17] A prototype was shown at the Geneva Motor Show in 2016.[6] A redesigned version, the Microlino 2.0, was unveiled in 2020.[17]
Awards and recognition
[edit]Micro products have received Red Dot Design Awards, including for the mini2go (2014) and the micro kids luggage junior (2021).[18][19] In 2016, the Mini Micro Deluxe and Maxi Micro Deluxe received Gold awards from the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Awards.[20][21]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ Holder, Sarah (September 26, 2018). "The Man Behind the Scooter Revolution". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
- 1 2 Simonian, Haig (December 22, 2010). "Scooter pioneer that survived to ride again". Financial Times. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
- ↑ "Einen Moment bitte, die Ausgabe wird geladen".
- ↑ "EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2015: Finalisten stehen fest". www.ey.com (in German). Archived from the original on 2016-07-26.
- ↑ Holder, Sarah (26 September 2018). "The Man Behind the Scooter Revolution". Bloomberg CityLab. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Holder, Sarah (1 October 2018). "What Scooters Were Always Supposed to Be". The Atlantic. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- 1 2 Reid, Carlton (18 March 2019). "Bicycling, Take A Hike: The Micromobility Revolution Will Be Motorized". Forbes. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Simonian, Haig (21 December 2010). "Scooter pioneer that survived to ride again". Financial Times. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- ↑ "2020's most innovative companies in Europe". Fast Company. 10 March 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- ↑ Curmei, Cristian (8 October 2020). "Mercedes-Benz and Micro Mobility Have Created an EV Scooter". autoevolution. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- 1 2 Tissot, Frédéric (24 June 2021). "Wim Ouboter". EY Switzerland. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- ↑ Rodella, Francesco (8 December 2018). "El exbanquero que quiso transformar la movilidad urbana: hablamos con el inventor del patinete". Xataka. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- ↑ "Unbekümmert unterwegs: Micro und Samsung präsentieren Kinder Scooter mit integriertem Galaxy SmartTag2". Samsung Newsroom Schweiz. 5 August 2024. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- ↑ "Microlino: les grands défis des micro-voitures". Trends-Tendances. Le Vif. 22 June 2025. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- ↑ "Micro Mobility Systems - Eco". 1% for the Planet Directory. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- ↑ Gammon, Katharine (19 March 2026). "The Best Kids Scooters". Wirecutter. The New York Times. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- 1 2 Ricker, Thomas (4 March 2020). "Smile, the new Microlino and Microletta electrics are here". The Verge. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- ↑ "Micro Kids Luggage". Red Dot Design Award. 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- ↑ "mini2go". Red Dot Design Award. 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- ↑ "New Micro Mini Deluxe". Oppenheim Toy Portfolio. 19 September 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- ↑ "New Micro Maxi Deluxe". Oppenheim Toy Portfolio. 19 September 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
External links
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