On August 5, Luup, a Tokyo-based company known for its electric scooter sharing service, announced a new three-wheeled vehicle called “Unimo.” It’s a one-seater vehicle that people 16 and older can ride without a driver’s license, as it falls under a special category of small electric bikes in Japan.
Unimo can go up to 20 km/h on roads, and if set to 6 km/h, it can also be used on certain sidewalks. It’s designed to be rented through Luup’s app from unmanned stations called “ports.”
While most users of Luup’s current electric scooters are in their 20s to 50s, the new Unimo is also targeted at seniors who have given up their licenses.
One key feature is its safety system: it uses technology from car parts maker Aisin to automatically balance the vehicle during turns and help prevent falls. Luup is also considering adding cameras to detect traffic violations, and in the future, they aim for self-driving capabilities.
Luup currently operates in 21 prefectures, and CEO Daiki Okai said they hope to expand into towns with many elderly residents.
by MagazineKey4532