Friday 11 October 2013

Electric scooter sales to surge 50% by 2020

Worldwide sales of electric scooters are estimated to grow 50% by 2020 according to a report from Navigant Research. It forecasts that global e-scooter sales will hit 18 million in 2020, up from 12 million in 2013.

Asia Pacific is far and way the world’s largest region for e-scooter sales, accounting for 99% of all purchases. Most of the scooters sold in the region are cheap, with relatively few features, found the report.

By contrast in Western Europe – the second biggest market - and North America, scooters tend to be higher-powered and more expensive.

The report said despite the differences, the surge in e-scooter sales is largely being powered by the same trends around the world - greater acceptance of two-wheel transport, rising urbanisation, fuller cities and demographic shifts.

Figures released in August showed the scooters' four wheeled cousins are the fastest growing part of the UK's car market.