Technology

Posted on July 10, 2018 by staff

Uber and Google invest £250m in ‘eScooter’ service

Technology

A bike sharing service has raised $335 million from a group of investors which includes Uber and Alphabet, Google’s new business umbrella.

Lime, which currently operates in the United States, will work with Uber to co-brand its scooters and make the service available on the Uber app.

Google Ventures, now known as GV, lead the funding round which also included technology investment firms IVP and Atomico.

Last month, San Francisco put a ban on electric rental scooters. Companies now have to apply for a permit to continue offering their services.

Uber has previously announced its plans to buy electric bicycle service JUMP Bikes and was among the companies applying for a scooter permit in the area after the ban came into effect.

Lime, which operates bike and scooter schemes in 60 cities and university campuses in the US has now launched operations across Europe in Berlin, Frankfurt, Zurich, and Switzerland.