The smooth mobility of the micro-mobility sector was severely hindered by the Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdown. However, Berlin-based TIER Mobility has since then managed to achieve profitability, funding for expansion, and even acquisition amid the global pandemic. In a recent development, TIER Mobility has announced that it has now launched its service in its 100th city – Kraków in Poland.
Philip Reinckens, VP & Regional GM DACH & CEE at TIER, says, “We’re excited to reach the milestone of 100 cities, where TIER provides the safest, most equitable and most sustainable mobility solution. Clocking more than 45 million trips in such a short amount of time exemplifies that cities around the world look for ways to make their transport networks safer and move towards a zero-emission future.”
Focus on international expansion
In recent years, the demand for shared electric scooters and other micro-mobility modes have made their place in the local transit sector, and TIER believes it is at the forefront of the sustainable transport revolution.
In the last three years, the company has managed to expand its e-scooter, e-bike, and e-moped services to 100 cities, including Paris, Berlin, Oslo, and Dubai. With its recent launch in Poland, the company has entered its 12th market and continues to further expand its footprint in Europe.
As part of its European expansion, TIER also announced that it will launch its service in Slovakia and Hungary in the near future and plans to roll out its vehicles in Ireland when the Irish Government passes its e-scooter legislation.
Besides, TIER has also extended its coverage in Central Europe, and the Nordics with new city launches in Lahti (Finland), Borås (Sweden), Tricity (Poland), Herning (Denmark) as well as Flensburg, Ludwigsburg, and Gelsenkirchen in Germany.
The company’s focus for the upcoming year is to further extend its coverage in Europe and the Middle East and to accelerate its ambitious expansion into new markets worldwide.
A multimodal offering
With the addition of e-bikes, TIER now claims to be one of the first micro-mobility companies to offer riders three different vehicle types on a single app. TIER’s electric bikes are currently available in Bærum (Norway) and York (UK). The company will also be launched in St. Gallen (Switzerland) and in several other European markets this year.
TIER riders have already travelled a total distance of around 93 million kilometres, helping save almost 15 million car trips.
To launch TIER Energy Network across Europe
In Germany, France, Norway, and the UK, TIER is currently rolling out the TIER Energy Network, an innovation that will see thousands of battery charging stations installed in businesses to power electric vehicles in an efficient and sustainable way. Through this, users can easily swap depleted vehicle batteries for charged ones at a network of charging stations hosted by local businesses and will be rewarded with a free trip every time they swap.
This enables TIER’s local business partners to attract new customers while reducing the carbon footprint of customer travel.
Philip Reinckens, VP & Regional GM DACH & CEE at TIER, says, “Our multimodal offering is already having a hugely positive impact on cities when it comes to reducing congestion and pollution. Now thanks to our Energy Network, we can also help local businesses in cities across Europe to reap the economic rewards of TIER’s service.”
Partnership with FREE NOW across Europe
TIER and FREE NOW have announced a strategic partnership wherein TIER e-scooters and e-mopeds in France and 8 German cities can be booked via the FREE NOW app. The app integration has already been launched in Paris, Lyon, Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Munich, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Essen and Düsseldorf, with further cities across Europe to be launched throughout the summer.
Philip Reinckens says, “Our mission to ‘Change Mobility for Good’ is largely about creating strong partnerships to expand everyone’s access to sustainable, easily accessible and multimodal mobility solutions. Teaming up with one of Europe’s leading mobility platforms allows us to expand access to our micro-mobility services in Germany, France and other European countries.”
As part of its commitment to sustainability, TIER has taken over 5,000 FREE NOW e-scooters, rebranded them to TIER and added them to the fleet.
The company has adopted the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a guiding framework and has set a clear agenda for reducing and offsetting emissions. TIER has been a climate-neutral company since January 2020.
About TIER Mobility
The company offers a range of shared, light electric vehicles, such as e-scooters, e-bikes, and e-mopeds, powered by a proprietary Energy Network.
Founded in 2018 by Lawrence Leuschner, Matthias Laug, and Julian Blessin, TIER currently operates in more than 95 cities across 11 countries in Europe and the Middle East. Its investors include SoftBank Vision Fund 2, Mubadala Capital, Northzone, Goodwater Capital, and White Star Capital.
Earlier in April 2021, with an aim to expand its footprint in Central and Eastern Europe, Berlin-based TIER acquired Makery – a Hungary-based software development firm.
And back in November 2020, the company raised a whopping $250M (approx €210.7M) in its Series C round of funding led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2. Existing investors also participated in that round, including Mubadala Capital, Northzone, Goodwater Capital, White Star Capital, Novator, and RTP Global.
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