Micro Mobility Systems#Microlino

Wim Ouboter, born in 1960, built a kick scooter out of laziness.{{when|date=April 2021}} He stated that the distance from his apartment to his favorite restaurant was too far to travel by foot and yet too close to use a bicycle. He then invented a two-wheeled scooter for distances that could easily be folded and placed in a backpack. He pitched his idea to Smart, and they were willing to put one Scooter in every single car. Ouboter then tried to find a manufacturer for his innovation but soon realized that Europe was too expensive. In Taiwan, he convinced the factory owner to produce the Scooter; as Smart considered his idea to be good, this helped convince the factory owner. Just before the production could start, Smart failed the moose test, so the project was put on hold until Smart could resolve the problem.{{Cite web|url=http://www.schweizerversicherung.ch/de/artikelanzeige/artikelanzeige_print.asp?pkBerichtNr=27883|title=Verlagsgruppe Handelszeitung|website=www.schweizerversicherung.ch|access-date=2016-04-13}}

While waiting for Smart to resolve the problem, Ouboter had another idea for a three-wheeled scooter, called the Kickboard. He teamed up with K2 and presented his idea at the International Sports Fair (ISPO) in Munich in 1998 very successfully. With the earned money, he founded Micro Mobility Systems in 1999 and started producing the two-wheeled Scooter, which was an even bigger success. Because of the excessive demand, he allowed his partner in Taiwan to distribute the Scooter in the United States with the name Razor for a commission. After selling about one million Scooters in 2000, the sales decreased rapidly in 2001.{{Cite web|url=http://archiv.rhein-zeitung.de/on/01/06/29/magazin/news/lifboom.html|title=RZ-Online: Der Tretroller ist den Kinderschuhen entwachsen|website=archiv.rhein-zeitung.de|access-date=2016-04-13}}

In the subsequent years,{{when|date=April 2021|reason=It needs to be specified.}} the company continued inventing new urban mobility products, such as the Mini Micro for children, the Scooter Luggage and the electric eMicro One. In addition, Micro has partnered with other brands; these include Peugeot, Suitsupply and Vibram.{{citation needed|date=August 2019}}

The company has also developed the Micro Xtreme for freestyle sports,{{when|date=April 2021}} and works closely with professional athletes like Benjamin Friant. {{citation needed|date=April 2021}} After the huge success in 2000 and the rapid downfall in 2001, Micro has grown organically with gross revenue in 2014 of 60 Million Swiss Francs.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sonntagszeitung.ch/read/sz_06_09_2015/wirtschaft/Die-Rueckkehr-der-Knutschkugel-42448|title=Die Rückkehr der Knutschkugel|website=www.sonntagszeitung.ch|access-date=2016-04-13}} With the development of the company, manufacturing capacities shifted to RazorUSA in California. In 2015, Wim Ouboter was nominated as Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst and Young.

In July 2019, BMW unveiled two new scooters made in collaboration with Micro Mobility Systems.{{cite web|url=https://www.designboom.com/technology/bmw-bike-generation-iv-cycling-07-13-2019/|title=BMW's sports performance and electric mobility enhanced for cycling|last=Spears|website=Designboom|date=July 14, 2019|access-date=July 31, 2019}}

{{Main|Microlino}}

File:Microlino Red Genf 2018.jpg

The Microlino, legally designated as a four-wheeled quadricycle with a battery-powered electric motor, was first presented in 2016 at the Geneva Car Show; it is based on the design of the Isetta, a 1950s bubble car which was sold over 160,000 times.{{cite web|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/autos/bmw-isetta-to-see-new-life-as-microlino-electric-microcar-1.2836607|title=BMW Isetta to see new life as Microlino electric microcar|last=Maronese|first=Nick|publisher=CTV News|date=March 29, 2016|access-date=July 31, 2019}} The two-seat small car is designed for urban mobility with a top speed of {{convert|90|km/h|mph}} and a maximum range of {{convert|120|km|mi}}. It can be charged from a domestic power outlet. The car was expected to be on the market in 2019 with an estimated price of 12,000 Euro, with initial sales limited to Germany and Switzerland.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2016/03/microlino-modern-bmw-isetta/|title=Steve Urkel's Isetta Finds Second Life as a Teensy Electric Car|last=Davies|first=Alex|magazine=WIRED|date=March 28, 2016|access-date=July 31, 2019}}{{needs update|reason=Please update the preceding text to reflect later developments.|date=April 2021}} In July 2018, the firm announced that the Microlino had just passed the final tests for EU homologation.{{cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/microlino-ev-bmw-isetta-electric-european-roads-eu-homologation/|title=The adorable Microlino EV looks poised to hit European roads soon|last=Paukert|first=Chris|website=CNET|date=July 20, 2018|access-date=July 31, 2019}}

File:Micro Microletta IAA 2021 1X7A0097.jpg

The Microletta is an electric three-wheeler also designed for urban mobility purposes. The vehicle is still in its planning stages, and production has not begun. The three-wheel design is intended to increase the security of the vehicle by enhancing the grip on the front axle, which reduces the braking distance and allows for better stability when cornering.{{cite web|last=Thomas Ricker|date=2020-03-04|title=Smile, the new Microlino and Microletta electrics are here|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/4/21164606/microlino-electric-microcar-microletta-motorbike-price-specs|access-date=|website=The Verge|language=en}} The semi-locking system of the tilting mechanism prevents the vehicle from tilting over when standing and makes a foldable stand unnecessary.{{Cite web|title=Microletta|url=https://microlino-car.com/en/microletta|access-date=2021-03-18|website=microlino-car.com|language=en}} Due to the three-wheel design and electric system, the Microletta is legally categorized as L5e, which allows driving up to {{Convert|80|km/h}} with a regular driving license. The Microletta will be equipped with two exchangeable batteries to enable charging at home.{{cite web|title=Microletta Concept: "Vereint Modernität mit Retro-Charme"|periodical=Elektroauto-News.net|publisher=|url=https://www.elektroauto-news.net/2020/microletta-concept-details-fakten-fotos|date=2020-03-05|language=de-DE}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Micro Mobility Systems}}

• [http://www.micro-mobility.com/ Micro Mobility Systems]
• [http://www.ifpm.unisg.ch/org/ifpm/web.nsf/SysWebRessources/Realizing+the+Scooter+Dream/$FILE/Micro-Last2-e.pdf Bruch, H. et al. 2003. Micro Mobility Systems. Realizing the Scooter Dream. Case Study, University of St. Gallen, St. Gallen.] 2003
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120320000400/http://osdir.com/ml/culture.bicycle.birdybike.general/2000-05/msg00015.html Folding Scooter Story – msg#00015 – OSDir] 2000 (archived 20 March 2012)

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Category:Kick scooters

Category:Manufacturing companies of Switzerland

Category:Companies based in the canton of Zürich