SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 20, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHILL – makers of the cutting-edge Model Ci and Model A Intelligent Personal Electric Vehicles (EVs), and Scootaround – a leading personal transportation solutions company, today announce the merger of both companies to evolve the personal mobility and transportation industry. With a shared vision to form a worldwide platform for assistive devices and provide a Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) model that can be implemented everywhere, WHILL and Scootaround aim to improve the current travel landscape for mobility device users by increasing their freedom and independence.
MaaS is defined as the integration of various forms of transport services into a single mobility service accessible on demand. While long distance travel has been rapidly evolving and becoming more convenient for decades, limited innovation has been developed around moving shorter distances, especially for people with reduced mobility. The new MaaS model implemented by WHILL and Scootaround will combine WHILL’s sleek and intuitive Personal EVs, which can easily maneuver indoors and effortlessly tackle rugged terrains, with Scootaround’s worldwide rental, repair and mobility management services. Looking to provide a completely seamless travel experience for mobility users in areas with heavy traffic flow – i.e. large venues, airports, theme parks and hospitals – to ‘last-mile’ transportation, the shared MaaS vision is fueling the development of new products to meet changing market needs for assistive device use.
“Our partnership with Scootaround is a huge step towards evolving the worldwide mobility transportation industry,” said Satoshi Sugie, Founder and CEO of WHILL. “We are taking WHILL’s technology – unlike any other mobility technology out there – and combining it with the best mobility and rental service from Scootaround to create a world that will help people with mobility issues increase their independence and experience the world as they would like, free from any past mobility constraints.”
“We are very active in the mobility market and joining forces with WHILL and its cutting-edge mobility technology was a progressive move to meet the market demand for enhanced service and superior products,” said Kerry Renaud, CEO and Managing Director of Scootaround. “Together, we are allowing someone who requires a form of mobility assistance to travel seamlessly from their origin to final destination – whether that be at the airport, at their hotel, residence, resort, and so on.”
WHILL’s Model Ci Personal EV will soon be available through Scootaround’s partnerships with leading airlines, cruise lines, convention centers, and more. The Model Ci is currently priced at $4,999 and comes with a one-year warranty on the omni-wheels and battery. New color options include navy blue and red.
For more information on WHILL, visit www.whill.us.
For more information on Scootaround, visit www.scootaround.com.
About WHILL and Scootaround:
WHILL has been on a mission since its founding in 2012 to transform the traditional wheelchair and scooter experience. With innovative design and state-of-the-art technology, WHILL created a new category of Intelligent Personal Electric Vehicles (EVs) to increase user confidence and independence. WHILL is reinventing the personal mobility industry with approachable and aesthetically pleasing powered vehicles that push the boundaries of personal transportation. WHILL’s current models of Intelligent Personal EVs include the Model Ci and Model A, which are both available to test drive and purchase.
In fall of 2018, the company joined forces with Scootaround – a leading personal transportation solutions company – to form a worldwide platform for assistive devices. Coupling WHILL’s Personal EVs with Scootaround’s device rental service means the team has the ability to accommodate each person’s diverse range of travel needs. Scootaround offers rental, sales, and repair services for mobility devices at over 2,500 locations, with a network of associates and dedicated locations across North America and Europe.
Headquartered in Yokohama, Japan with strategic offices in the US, Canada, and EU, WHILL and Scootaround are focused on helping people with mobility issues increase their freedom and independence.
Media Contact:
Hannah Young
Uproar PR for WHILL/Scootaround
321.236.0102
hyoung@uproarpr.com