Taiwan’s WeMo to provide EV-sharing service

WeMo Scooter, a Taiwan-based urban mobility startup, has launched what it said is the first all-electric vehicle-sharing platform on the island. The service, called WeMo RenTour, is available immediately in Kinmen, located off the west coast of Taiwan.

In addition to the launch, the company also announced the appointment of a new CEO, David Liu. Liu was the founder of video-streaming platform Choco TV, which was absorbed by Line in 2018. In his new role, Liu will scale WeMo’s businesses to cover more segments and expand to new markets.

Photo credit: WeMo

The company said it has partnered with smart-vehicle brands and rental firms for WeMo RenTour, which allows users to book cars, scooters, and bicycles via the WeMo app. Electric vehicles from various brands are currently available for rent on the platform, such as Hyundai, Kymco, eMoving, and Tern Bicyles.

Through RenTour, WeMo can also share ride data with rental partners, dealerships, telco firms, and regulators to provide real-time updates on traffic and vehicle performance.

WeMo was founded in 2016 with a vision to reduce emissions by offering customers a convenient and personalized mode of transportation without having to own a vehicle. Since then, the company has drawn in over a million users.

WeMo co-founder Jeffrey Wu said that the company’s transition to EVs is a natural progression, as more manufacturers and service providers seek to digitalize their offerings and take environmental responsibility more seriously.

According to data from Statista, the global e-scooter-sharing market will surpass US$1.5 billion in value this year. It is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 15.42% to reach US$2.8 billion by 2026.

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