Big moves for Bolt & Didi
Rumors of micromobility’s demise have been greatly exaggerated, as evidenced by Bolt’s expansion into the e-bike rental game in London. Not to say there aren’t still plenty of haters: Barcelona is waging a draconian crackdown on e-scooters and a group of Toronto merchants is campaigning to tear up bike lanes –– with the support of powerful political leaders.
In the air, REGENT edges closer to commercial seaglider travel, while Volocopter, fresh out of insolvency, may have a lifeline from Diamond Aircraft. On the global automotive stage, China’s BYD cements its dominance with a massive $5.6 billion share sale, fueling its expansion into Europe and beyond. Meanwhile, Didi eyes more funding to accelerate its AV ambitions while another robotaxi partnership launches in Texas.
On the urban development front, New York’s “City of Yes” zoning overhaul could reshape the housing landscape, making way for more homes near transit. And in Texas, a decommissioned coal plant is finding new life as a green hydrogen hub, a sign of the shifting energy future.
We're also just 7 weeks away from CoMotion MIAMI '25, New Reality, New Opportunities. Join mobility’s most influential innovators and thought-leaders. Snag your pass now and secure Early Bird savings.
What you need to know
Bolt gets into e-bikes: Estonian ride-hailing and mobility giant Bolt, an emerging rival to Uber that is considering an IPO later this year, partners with e-bike startup Forest to integrate 15,000 rentable e-bikes into its app in London. This move expands Bolt’s micromobility offerings while giving Forest a wider user base. It’s notable that it’s happening in the UK, which has been very hesitant to allow micromobility. Bolt is separately deploying 1,000 e-scooters in Antwerp, trying to fill a void left by competitor Poppy, which recently left the city.
REGENT takes flight: REGENT Craft unveils its first full-scale, all-electric seaglider prototype, "Paladin," and begins initial on-water tests in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. The 12-passenger Viceroy seaglider, measuring 55 feet in length with a 65-foot wingspan, operates over water in three modes: floating on its hull, foiling above waves on hydrofoils, and flying within one wingspan of the water's surface. These sea trials mark a significant step toward the first human flight on a seaglider, anticipated mid-year. Check out the video trailer here.
Toronto merchants sue over bike lanes: A group of business owners sue the city of Toronto over a bike lane they claim has harmed their shops. Their suit is part of a broader backlash against city bike infrastructure embraced by Ontario premier Doug Ford on behalf of disgruntled suburban car commuters.
Magic City Mindset: Unlocking Innovation with Leigh-Ann Buchanan
In this week’s episode, Nick Perloff-Giles sits down with Leigh-Ann Buchanan, Founder & CEO of the Miami-Dade Innovation Authority, a non-profit that connects the most innovative startups in Miami's private markets with the most pressing needs in the public sector. They discuss how MDIA is disrupting slow procurements, and how public sector involvement can 'de-risk' innovation. Plus, a sneak peek at CoMotion MIAMI '25.
Another robotaxi collab in Texas: Hyundai partners with Avride, an autonomous vehicle startup spun off from Russian firm Yandex, to develop 100 fully autonomous Ioniq 5 robotaxis for ride-hailing services. These vehicles, equipped with Avride's self-driving technology, will be assembled at Hyundai's Georgia factory and initially deployed in Dallas later this year as part of Avride's agreement with Uber. Meanwhile, in Austin, Waymo has begun to offer driverless rides through Uber and Tesla says it will launch its own robotaxi service in June.
Hope for Volocopter: Three months after filing for insolvency, German eVTOL aircraft developer Volocopter may have found a savior. Austrian aviation company Diamond Aircraft has emerged as a potential investor, offering hope for Volocopter's restructuring efforts.
Didi looks for more AV investment: Didi Global, China's leading ride-hailing company, seeks to raise several hundred million dollars for its autonomous driving unit, aiming for a valuation of approximately $5 billion. This funding effort follows a $298 million investment led by state-owned automaker GAC in October.
Join the movement!
Mobility’s most influential innovators and thought-leaders will be coming to the Magic City on April 29-30 for CoMotion MIAMI ‘25.
Hear from Miami-Dade County’s Mayor, Daniella Levine Cava, advanced aerial mobility pioneer Ampaire’s Co-Founder & CEO, Kevin Noertker, HNTB's Vice President, Beth Kigel, and PortMiami’s Chief Innovation Officer, Chris Hudtwalcker. Check out the latest confirmed speakers.
Public and private sector leaders will explore hot topics: Autonomy & the Urban Experience, Next-Gen Maritime Mobility and Logistics, Emerging Funding Models for Investment, Policy Reform for New Mobility, and many more.
Start planning your participation to the most insightful mobility gathering anywhere.
BYD gains steam as global behemoth: The Shenzhen-based EV maker, now China’s top-selling auto brand, raises $5.6 billion through a share sale in Hong Kong, marking the largest equity follow-on offering in the global automotive sector in a decade.The proceeds will support BYD's overseas expansion, including plans to establish production facilities in Hungary, Turkey, and Brazil. Even as it faces new trade barriers in the U.S., BYD and other Chinese brands are well-positioned to overtake U.S. and European automakers by offering high-quality products at low prices.
A Catalan crackdown on e-scooters: Barcelona's police issue nearly 3,000 fines to e-scooter users, primarily for riding without a helmet, following the implementation of new regulations on February 1. The updated rules mandate helmet use, limit speeds to 25 km/h on streets and bike lanes, and prohibit riding on sidewalks, with fines ranging from €100 to €500 for violations.
Bike sales drop in Holland: Bicycle sales in the Netherlands dropped to their lowest level in a decade in 2024, down 7% from the previous year. Roughly half of the 858,000 bikes sold were electric.
What we're reading
Green Hydrogen displaces fossil fuels in Texas: Writing for Reasons to Be Cheerful, Xander Peters discusses the transformation of the decommissioned Oklaunion Power Plant near Vernon, Texas, into a green hydrogen production facility. The initiative is expected to prevent the consumption of five billion gallons of diesel over its operational lifetime. The project exemplifies a broader trend of repurposing fossil fuel infrastructure for renewable energy, aligning with global efforts to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change.
New York City’s subtle but significant zoning changes: CityLab takes a look at what New York’s “City of Yes” zoning reforms will allow to be built –– and where. Many New York buildings would not be legal to build today because of regulations introduced over the past 60 years. Facing a worsening housing crisis, however, city leaders have finally taken big steps to encourage more homes near public transit.
