Singapore-based Neuron Mobility to launch e-scooter rental services in Korea

SINGAPORE-based startup Neuron Mobility is expanding to Korea, kicking off in Seoul with the launch of its electric scooter rental services this Friday.

The decision follows the Korean government's recent introduction of stricter rules on how electric scooters, or e-scooters, should be ridden and operated, Neuron Mobility said on Thursday. It noted that the use of e-scooters had been previously largely unregulated.

Neuron Mobility chief executive Zachary Wang said: "We've been studying the rise in popularity of e-scooters in Korea for some time. Now that new regulations are being introduced, as well as an increased focus on safety, we think it's the perfect time to bring our safely-leading e-scooters and collaborative ways of working to the city."

In Korea, Neuron will launch a "Korean-spec e-scooter", fitted with what it says is the world's first app-controlled helmet lock. This electronically secures a safety helmet to every e-scooter, in line with Korea's recently updated laws requiring all riders to wear a helmet.

The company will initially deploy 2,000 of those e-scooters to test and refine operations before "scaling significantly" later in the year.

Neuron said it will recruit over 100 people in Korea; it will also add 30 roles to its Singapore headquarters to support an overall international expansion.

In Australia and New Zealand, the company has already secured new contracts to operate in Canberra and Townsville in Australia, and Dunedin in New Zealand.

In the UK, it has secured contracts in Slough, Newcastle and Sunderland.

Neuron Mobility's overseas expansion follows a round of fund-raising last September, led by venture capital firms Square Peg and GSR Ventures, which brought its total Series A funding to US$30.5 million.