A Chicago-based electric scooter company is branching out into retail, selling an upgraded version of its e-scooter directly to consumers.
Veo, formerly known as VeoRide, is selling its Astro Go scooter for pre-order on its mobile app for $599. The scooter is foldable, has turn signals and can go up to 30 mph. Veo began developing the Astro Go earlier this year after the pandemic began and threatened its scooter-sharing business.
“We realized that Covid can be very challenging for public transportation,” said Veo CEO Candice Xie.
The Astro Go is specifically designed for personal use, Xie said, and is not the model available in its scooter-sharing programs around the country. Founded in 2017, Veo originally launched as a bike-sharing company. It still operates electric bike-share programs in some markets, and also offers the Cosmo, a sit-down scooter model.
Across the country, Veo’s devices are available in about 40 communities, which include cities and college campuses. The startup currently offers scooter sharing in places like the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and in Atlanta, where Veo launched earlier this summer.
The company announced the sale of its personal scooter shortly after Chicago officials announced a second scooter pilot, which is slated to launch later this month. E-scooter companies Lime, Bird and Spin are participating. To address concerns of how scooter-sharing could spread Covid-19, the scooter companies are required to disinfect scooters each time a staff member comes in contact with one. Additionally, riders are encouraged to wear gloves and wash or disinfect hands after each use.
Veo, Chicago’s only homegrown scooter startup, did not apply to be in this year’s scooter pilot because of the quick turnaround time from announcement to launch, Xie said. The city began taking applications for the pilot in June, announced the pilot July 30 and the pilot begins Aug. 12.
Veo did, however, participate in Chicago’s 2019 e-scooter pilot, which received favorable reviews from riders.
This year’s scooter pilot, which ends in mid-December, can only operate from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. on a daily basis, creating an opportunity for Veo’s new personal scooter, according to Xie.
“After 10 p.m. or before 5 a.m., you’re not allowed to ride a scooter, which can be a challenge for a lot of people, especially essential workers, who have late night shifts or early morning shifts,” Xie said. “With Astro Go, you’re able to have a personal scooter so you can have a more reliable and safe mode of transportation to support your daily commute.”
In the scooter-sharing market, Veo has tried to differentiate itself by designing and manufacturing its own scooters, which are made in Asia. Many other scooter companies buy their devices from third-party manufacturers.
Veo scooters are powered by swappable batteries, which allows the company’s technicians to replace battery packs on site as opposed to relying on third parties to charge scooters for them. Veo scooters also feature dual mechanical breaks, which Xie says is more reliable than an electronic break. The scooters also feature mountain bike-like suspension, and its wheels are larger and more powerful than the average scooter.
Veo has grown to employ about 100 full-time people in Chicago, and is planning to move its offices to a larger space in Noble Square, Xie said. The startup also has multiple open roles on its website.
Even though Veo is not participating in Chicago’s scooter pilot this year, Xie said she intends to participate in future pilots or apply for a permanent scooter license in the event the city allows it.
“In the longer-term, we’ll be one of the companies that applies for the permit,” Xie said. “We are super interested, and we’ll be thrilled if we can have the opportunity again to serve our home state.”
