Bird is launching a new vehicle this summer.
The Bird Cruiser can accommodate two adults and resembles a moped with two large wheels, a padded seat and handlebars. Riders can use the vehicle’s electric-assist pedals or rest their feet on pegs. It includes hydraulic disk brakes, a 52 volt battery, an LCD display and a motor that handles hills easily, according to a press release.
“Starting this summer, people can move about their city and explore new neighborhoods together, without a car,” said Travis VanderZanden, founder and CEO of Bird. “Bird Cruiser is an inclusive electric-powered option that is approachable, easy-to-ride and comfortable on rough roads.”
The Cruiser is the third vehicle the Santa Monica-based company has designed in-house. Bird’s earlier models broke down frequently and it lost money on each scooter. The company transitioning its fleet to sturdier in-house models with longer ranges, which means it will spend less on gig economy chargers, contract mechanics and replacing scooters.
The company most recently released Bird One, a safer, more durable scooter equipped with anti-theft features, such as a GPS and a digital lock. The model is available to rent and riders can also buy it outright for $1,299.
“Bird’s introduction of shared e-scooters spurred a global phenomenon and mode shift away from cars,” Vander Zanden said. “To further accelerate progress on our mission to make cities more livable, we are providing additional environmentally friendly micro-mobility alternatives—including Bird Cruiser.”
Bird Cruiser will be available in a few test markets this summer as part of Bird’s fleet of shared vehicles as well as via Bird Platform Partners, which enables independent operators to manage their own fleet of devices.
madeleine@smdp.com
