Spin, the micromobility unit of Ford Motor Co. in Dearborn, announced it is expanding its services to into Europe, starting in Matosinhos, Portugal with an initial fleet of 200 e-scooters to residents and visitors and plans to scale the fleet based on consumer demand.
The company also plans to expand to additional cities in Portugal by the end of the year.
“Portugal is our sixth international launch to date, and we continue to see heavy adoption of micromobility all around the world,” says Ben Bear, CEO of Spin. “We applaud the work that Portugal is doing to provide alternative transit solutions that support the country’s climate efforts. We look forward to continuing our expansion into other Iberian cities over the course of this year.”
Matosinhos is one of eight European cities participating in a project led by Amsterdam Bilbao Citizen Driven Smart Cities that aims to reduce CO2 emission by 1.7 kilotons in urban areas in the next few years. It is this commitment to sustainability that attracted Spin.
The launch will include a collaboration between Spin and CEIIA, the largest Portuguese engineering and development center. The center is spearheading AYR, a project designed to reward city residents for their sustainable behaviors. It will quantify the reduction of CO2 emissions by users who choose to use Spin’s fleet and awards them credits in a digital wallet.
“We are excited to bring the first of our e-scooter fleets in Portugal to Matosinhos, a city that is adopting ambitious commitments towards decarbonization, renewable energy, and providing greener transit options,” says Felix Petersen, head of Europe at Spin. “Spin aims to be a close player in this transformation. We believe Portugal shares our vision for mobility and we’re committed to helping the country reach its goals.”
Spin is working with the municipality to develop its fleet responsibly, with public safety as the main priority. It plans to coordinate a series of public education events to inform resident of the city about safe riding practices, along with investing in the local community, hiring 11 position to help manage the operations. The scooters will cost €1 to unlock and €0.19 per minute to ride.
Spin currently operates in six countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, and now Portugal. For more information, visit here.
