Segway Inc.#Subsidiary of Ninebot

{{short description|Chinese-acquired American maker of self-balancing personal transporters}}

{{Infobox company

| name = Segway Inc.

| logo = Segway logo.svg

| owner = Ninebot

| key_people = Wang Ye (CEO)
Dean L. Kamen (Founder)
Alex Chen Huang (President)
Tony Ho (US Vice President Robotics and Business Development)
Gao Lufeng (Chairman)

| industry = Personal transporters and robotics

| genre =

| products =

| services =

| operating_income =

| divisions =

| subsid =

| footnotes = {{URL|www.ninebot.com}}

| foundation = {{start date and age|1999|7|27}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapid=2011748|title=Company Overview of Segway Inc.|work=Bloomberg}}

| location_city =

| location_country =

| location = Beijing, China

| locations =

| homepage = {{URL|www.segway.com}}

}}

Segway Inc. is a Chinese owned, formerly American manufacturer of two-wheeled personal transporters, chiefly through its Segway PT and Segway miniPro product lines. Founded by inventor Dean Kamen in 1999, the company's name is a homophone of the word "segue".

Segway Inc. was headquartered in the U.S. state of New Hampshire and primarily marketed its products to various niche markets, including police departments, military bases, warehouses, corporate campuses, and industrial sites. It has held some key patents on designs for self-balancing personal transporters, although some of them have since expired. Since the Chinese company Ninebot acquired it in 2015, Segway has focused on developing a stronger presence in the consumer market with smaller products such as the Segway miniPro.

History

=Origins=

File:Segway Polizei 4.jpg used by three policemen in Germany]]

The first patent by Dean Kamen for a self-balancing transportation device was filed on February 23, 1993, and granted on December 30, 1997, in relation to the iBOT, a self-balancing wheelchair which he developed at DEKA, a company that he had founded in 1982. That patent has since expired,{{US Patent|5701965|US patent 5,701,965 Human transporter}}, now expired although it was followed by various others, and some patents assigned to the company have not yet expired (as of early 2019).{{cite web|url=http://www.segway.com/patents.pdf|title=Segway Patent Information|publisher=Segway Inc.}}

Development of the iBOT started in 1990 with the first working prototypes available in 1992. In late 1994, DEKA signed a deal with Johnson & Johnson to manufacture the unit, with Johnson & Johnson paying for all subsequent R&D with DEKA received a smaller royalty fee than normal in return for their retaining rights to all non-medical applications of the technology. The iBOT was revealed to the public on Dateline NBC in a segment by John Hockenberry on June 30, 1999.{{cite web|title=The iBOT|url=https://msu.edu/~luckie/segway/iBOT/iBOT.html|website=msu.edu|accessdate=2 June 2016}}{{cite book|last1=Kemper|first1=Steve|title=Code Name Ginger: The Story Behind Segway and Dean Kamen's Quest to Invent a New World|year=2003|publisher=Harvard Business Press|isbn=9781578516735|page=53|language=en}}

=Independent years=

Segway Inc. was founded in July 1999 to develop non-medical applications for the self-balancing technology, and the Segway PT, a two-wheeled personal transporter, was launched in December 2001,{{cite web|last=Machrone |first=Bill |url=http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,97229,00.asp |title=Ginger Unveiled-It's a Scooter! |publisher=Extremetech.com |date=3 December 2001 |accessdate=11 March 2009}} with first deliveries to customers in early 2002.

When it was launched in December 2001, the annual sales target was 40,000 units,{{cite news|last=Sovich |first=Nina |url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fsb/fsb_archive/2004/04/01/366638/index.htm |title=Segway Slump |publisher=CNN |date=April 1, 2004 |accessdate=2009-03-11}} and the company expected to sell 50,000 to 100,000 units in the first 13 months.{{cite web|url=http://news.zdnet.co.uk/hardware/0,1000000091,39116739,00.htm# |title=Segway sales fall far short - ZDNet.co.uk |publisher=News.zdnet.co.uk |date=September 29, 2003 |accessdate=2009-03-11|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100115065143/http://news.zdnet.co.uk/hardware/0,1000000091,39116739,00.htm|archivedate=January 15, 2010}} By 2003, the company had sold 6,000 units, and by September 2006 approximately 23,500,{{cite web|url=http://www.cio.com/article/24842/Segway_Recalls_All_Scooters_Sold_to_Date?taxonomyId=1461 |title=Segway Recalls All 23,500 Scooters Sold to Date |accessdate=2009-08-04|work=CIO|date=15 September 2006}} when all units sold up to that point were recalled due to a software glitch that could cause the units to reverse, potentially causing riders to fall off.{{cite news|url=https://money.cnn.com/2006/09/14/news/companies/segway/index.htm |title=Segway recalls 23,500 scooters |accessdate=2009-08-04 |website=CNN | date=September 14, 2006}} In a March 2009 interview, a company official said the firm "has shipped over 50,000" Segway PTs.{{cite web|url=http://unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Segway%2c+GM+roll+out+%27smart%27+vehicle&articleId=cafc9048-3790-48c8-9b0e-77e62501ba59 |title=Segway, GM roll out 'smart' vehicle |publisher=UnionLeader.com |date=April 8, 2009 |accessdate=2009-10-17}}

Segway Inc's investors remained optimistic. Dean Kamen predicted that the Segway "will be to the car what the car was to the horse and buggy"{{cite news|last=Regan |first=Michael P. |url=https://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techinnovations/2006-05-30-segway-ipo_x.htm |title=Segway sets course for stock market |work=USA Today |date=May 30, 2006 |accessdate=2009-03-11}} and John Doerr, a venture capitalist who invested in the company,{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/entrepreneurs/2007/07/06/apple-amazon-myspace-ent-manage-cx_ws_0709dump.html |title=When To Dump That Great Idea |work=Forbes |first=Wil |last=Schroter |date=July 9, 2007 |accessdate=2009-03-11 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081030070420/http://www.forbes.com/entrepreneurs/2007/07/06/apple-amazon-myspace-ent-manage-cx_ws_0709dump.html |archivedate=October 30, 2008 }} predicted that Segway Inc would be the fastest company to reach {{US$|1 billion}} in sales.

By 2007, cumulative sales were 30,000 units. Critics pointed to Segway Inc's silence over its financial performance as an indication that the company was still not profitable, following expenditure of some {{US$|100 million}} developing the Segway PT.

In 2009, General Motors announced that it was building a prototype two-seat electric vehicle with Segway. An early prototype of the Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility vehicle, dubbed Project P.U.M.A., was demonstrated in New York a day ahead of the press previews for the 2009 New York International Auto Show.{{cite news|author1=Shepardson, David |author2=Priddle, Alisa |date=7 April 2009 |url=http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090407/AUTO01/904070332/1148/&source=nletter-business|title=GM to roll out two-seat, urban electric prototype|work=The Detroit News|accessdate=7 April 2009}}{{cite news|author=Terlep, Sharon|date=7 April 2009|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB123906731177395605|title=GM, Segway to Make Vehicle|work=The Wall Street Journal|accessdate=7 April 2009}} At Expo 2010 in Shanghai, the successor was presented, the "EN-V project".{{cite web|url=http://www.segway.com/en-v/|title=The EN-V Project – Segway Advanced Development|website=Segway|url-status=dead|archivedate=November 28, 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101128094430/http://www.segway.com/en-v/}}

James Norrod served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Segway Inc. from April 2005 to January 2010 and steered the sale of the company to a group led by British millionaire Jimi Heselden, chairman of Hesco Bastion in December 2009.{{cite news|last=Hachman |first=Mark |url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2358173,00.asp |title=Segway Quietly Sold; Dealers Remain Optimistic - Reviews by PC Magazine |publisher=Pcmag.com |date= January 18, 2010|accessdate=2010-01-29}} After the sale, Dean Kamen was no longer involved with the company. Ten months after buying the company, Heselden died after he accidentally drove a Segway off a cliff.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-11416654|title=Segway boss Jimi Heselden dies in scooter cliff fall|work=BBC News |date=September 27, 2010 |accessdate= 2023-04-26}}{{cite web| url=

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-14167868| title= Segway boss died in 'act of courtesy'| date= 15 July 2011| website= BBC News Online| accessdate= 8 January 2020}}{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna39377851 |title=Segway company owner rides scooter off cliff, dies |quote=A British businessman, who bought the Segway company less than a year ago, died after riding one of the scooters off a cliff and into a river near his Yorkshire estate. |publisher=NBC News |accessdate=February 3, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leeds-11465512|title=Inquest into Segway head's death|date=4 October 2010|publisher= BBC News}}

In February 2013, Summit Strategic Investments, LLC, announced it had acquired the company for $9 million, saying that it planned to refocus, grow its product portfolio and expand its worldwide network. In September 2014, Segway filed a complaint with the United States International Trade Commission about the infringement of several of its patents by several Chinese companies, including Ninebot, Shenzhen INMOTION Technologies and Robstep Robot.United States International Trade Commission: "Complaint of Segway Inc. and Deka Products Limited Partnership under Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as Amended." 9 September 2014. [http://www.segway.com/segway-resources/downloads/pdfs/ITC_Complaint_092014.pdf Available on Segway's website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150501003904/http://www.segway.com/segway-resources/downloads/pdfs/ITC_Complaint_092014.pdf |date=May 1, 2015 }}. Two years later, on April 1, 2015, Summit Strategic Investments sold the company for more than $75 million.{{cite web |last1=McFarland |first1=Matt |title=Segway was supposed to change the world. Two decades later, it just might |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/30/tech/segway-history/index.html |website=cnn.com |date=October 30, 2018 |publisher=CNN}}

=Subsidiary of Ninebot=

On April 1, 2015, Segway was acquired by Ninebot Inc., a Beijing-based transportation robotics startup that had raised $80M USD from Xiaomi and Sequoia Capital.Catherine Shu: "[https://techcrunch.com/2015/04/15/ninebot-segways-into-the-future/ Beijing-based Ninebot Acquires Segway, Raises $80M From Xiaomi And Sequoia]", TechCrunch, 15 April 2015.

In May 2016, it was announced that the Segway miniPRO, a smaller self-balancing scooter, would be launched in June that year.{{cite web|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2016/05/13/segway-pounces-hoverboard-market/tyChbdjK78Hf5LxoAtC5RM/story.html|title=Segway pounces on hoverboard market|work=Boston Globe|date=14 May 2016}}

In June 2018, after initially announcing that production of the Segway PT would move from Bedford, New Hampshire to China, the company decided to keep most of its production in its New Hampshire facility.{{cite news |url=http://www.unionleader.com/business/segway-production-moving-from-bedford-to-china-layoffs-anticipated-20180626 |title=Segway production moving from Bedford to China, layoffs anticipated |first=Michael |last=Cousineau |newspaper=New Hampshire Union Leader |location=Manchester, New Hampshire |date=June 26, 2018 |accessdate=June 27, 2018}}{{cite news |url=https://www.unionleader.com/news/business/segway-says-most-of-its-production-will-remain-in-bedford/article_8d3e0eaf-e8b8-5c03-97c9-337201036458.html |title=Segway says most of its production will remain in Bedford |location=Manchester, New Hampshire |date=June 26, 2018 |accessdate=June 26, 2018}}

On July 15, 2020, Ninebot ceased production of the Segway PT and laid off the 21 employees working at the Bedford, New Hampshire plant.{{cite web |last1=McFarland |first1=Matt |title=The Segway is officially over |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/23/tech/segway-pt-shut-down/index.html |website=cnn.com |date=June 23, 2020 |publisher=CNN |accessdate=23 June 2020}}

=Pivot to E-bikes and becoming major shareholder of Sur-ron ebikes=

In 2019, Sur-Ron, a privately held company, announced major investments from Segway with plans to design an ebike for Segway and off-road motorcycles.{{cite web |title=Sur Ron clarifies Segway electric dirt bike, promises 2020 surprises |url=https://electrek.co/2019/11/15/sur-ron-segway-electric-dirt-bike-clarification/ |website=electricbike |date=November 15, 2019 |access-date=17 September 2021 |last1=Toll |first1=Micah }}

The Segway dirt e-bike model x260 and x160 were officially revealed at the SEMA 2019 show.{{cite web |title=segway-ninebot-took-sema-2019-by-storm- |url=https://www.segway.com/segway-ninebot-took-sema-2019-by-storm-with-its-newly-debuted/ |website=segway |date=November 25, 2019 |access-date=17 September 2021}}

=Robotic mower=

In 2021, Segway introduced the Navimow, an autonomous robotic lawn mower{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-10-15 |title=Segway Navimow Unveils the X3 Series at Equip Expo |url=https://turfmagazine.com/segway-navimow-unveils-the-x3-series-at-equip-expo/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=Turf Magazine |language=en-US}} which operates using GPS, eliminating the need for perimeter wiring. The company introduced its X3 mower in January 2025.{{Cite web |last=Mehta |first=Harshendra |date=2025-01-08 |title=Segway Navimow X3 Robot Lawn Mower Assures Fastest Speeds |url=https://www.homecrux.com/segway-navimow-x3-robot-lawn-mower/303101/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=Homecrux |language=en-US}}

Products

{{As of|2018|8}}:

;Products branded 'Segway'

Segway i2 SE (professional self-balancing scooter for use in warehouses and other locations){{cite web|url=http://uk-en.segway.com/products/segway-i2-se|title=Segway I2 SE|publisher=Segway Inc.|accessdate=13 July 2017}}
Segway x2 SE (ruggedised self-balancing scooter for use on most challenging terrain){{cite web|url=http://uk-en.segway.com/products/segway-x2-se|title=Segway x2 SE|publisher=Segway Inc.|accessdate=13 July 2017}}
Segway SE 3 (three-wheeled standup motorized scooter for professional use){{cite web|url=http://uk-en.segway.com/products/segway-se-3|title=Segway SE 3|publisher=Segway Inc.|accessdate=13 July 2017}}
Segway Robot (autonomous robot based on the Segway mini plus){{cite web|url=http://www.segwayrobotics.com/|title=Meet Loomo|work=Segway Robotics|accessdate=13 July 2017}}
Segway Drift W1 (self-balancing rollerblades){{cite web|url=http://uk-en.segway.com/products/driftw1|title=Segway Drift W1|publisher=Segway Inc.|accessdate=24 August 2018}}

;Products branded 'Ninebot by Segway'

Ninebot by Segway E+ (self-balancing scooter for general use){{cite web|url=http://uk-en.segway.com/products/ninebot-by-segway-e|title=Ninebot by Segway E+|publisher=Segway Inc.|accessdate=13 July 2017}}
Ninebot by Segway miniPro (smaller self-balancing scooter for general use, controlled by a 'knee control bar'){{cite web|url=http://uk-en.segway.com/products/ninebot-by-segway-minipro|title=Segway miniPro|publisher=Segway Inc.|accessdate=13 July 2017}}
Ninebot S (2019 similar to miniPro){{Cite web|url=https://www.segway.com/ninebot-s/|title=Ninebot S}}
Ninebot S+ (2019 larger version of the Ninebot S){{Cite web|url=https://www.segway.com/segway-ninebot-s-plus/|title=Segway S-PLUS}}
Ninebot by Segway One S2, (latest generation self-balancing unicycle){{cite web|url=http://uk-en.segway.com/products/ninebot-by-segway-one-s2|title=Ninebot by Segway One S2|publisher=Segway Inc.|accessdate=13 July 2017}}
Ninebot by Segway One E+ (earlier model of self-balancing unicycle){{cite web|url=http://uk-en.segway.com/products/ninebot-by-segway-one-e-(1)|title=Ninebot by Segway One E+|publisher=Segway Inc.|accessdate=13 July 2017}}
Ninebot by Segway ES1/ES2/ES4 (a series of electric kick-scooters). An ES4 is essentially an ES2 with external battery attached.{{cite web|url=http://uk-en.segway.com/products/ninebot-by-segway-kickscooter-es2|title=Ninebot by Segway ES2|publisher=Segway Inc.|accessdate=24 August 2018}}
Ninebot by Segway Max{{Cite web|title=Ninebot Kickscooter MAX|url=https://www.segway.com/ninebot-kickscooter-max/|access-date=2022-02-23|website=Segway|language=en-US}}
Ninebot by Segway F20A/F30/F40{{Cite web|title=Ninebot F series|url=https://ap-en.segway.com/product/kickscooter-f-series.html}}
Segway GT 1/2 Series{{Cite web|title=Ninebot GT series|work=Electrek |date=March 2, 2022 |url=https://electrek.co/2022/03/02/segway-just-released-a-massively-powerful-standing-electric-scooter-approaching-45-mph/ |last1=Toll |first1=Micah }}
Segway E-SK8 Shredder Kit
Segway-Ninebot Mecha Kit
Ninebot Gokart Kit
Ninebot by Segway Urban A200{{Cite web |title=Urban A200 |url=https://b2b.segway.com/e-bike/ |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=Segway Commercial |language=en-US}}/A200P{{Cite web |title=E-Bike A200P |url=https://b2b.segway.com/e-bike-a200p/ |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=Segway Commercial |language=en-US}}/A300 Delivery{{Cite web |title=Urban A300 E-bike Food Delivery Version |url=https://b2b.segway.com/urban-a300/ |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=Segway Commercial |language=en-US}}/B100{{Cite web |title=E-Bike B100 |url=https://b2b.segway.com/e-bike-b100/ |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=Segway Commercial |language=en-US}}/B200{{Cite web |title=E-Bike B200 |url=https://b2b.segway.com/e-bike-b200/ |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=Segway Commercial |language=en-US}} (series of sharing e-bikes)