For the shared mobility sector, 2023 was a year of rapid transition.
Analysis of the European market (U27 + United Kingdom, Norway and Switzerland) for bikes, scooters, scooters, shared cars
The decision of the city of Paris to ban scooters was not an oil stain, but it still threw a chill on the market. Several major European cities (Rome, Berlin, Brussels) have decided to limit the number of operators and vehicles. In general, there has been a tightening of conditions imposed by cities.
After raising hundreds of millions of euros between 2018 and 2021, operators are no longer able to finance themselves under good conditions. They need to manage their cash flow as closely as possible and this is not done without problems:
New offers are emerging, especially around shared bikes: The use of free-floating bicycles increased by more than 50% in 2023, thus taking over from scooters (which had brought the market from 2019 to 2022).
Bikes in stations and shared cars also benefit from a great dynamic.
Market concentration is increasing. To continue to develop, some operators decided to come together in order to strengthen their leadership and generate economies of scale (ShareNow and Free2Move, TIER and Dott). But for others, it was already too late and we had to throw in the towel (Reby, Superpedestrian, Cityscoot).
“Our forecasts for 2024 are optimistic both in terms of the number of trips made and in terms of revenue generated. The disappearance of certain operators and the multiplication of tenders will encourage the emergence of European champions. Certainly there will be less competition. The financial strength and operational control of the remaining players will allow the continued development of shared mobility services, for the greatest benefit of European cities and their inhabitants.”
Analysis by Julien Chamussy, president of Fluctuo
The question of the economic model of these services will be at the heart of discussions in 2024. Are the revenues paid by users sufficient to achieve profitability? Or should public subsidies be considered, as is already the case for most station bike services? Will the Paris Olympics bring new impetus?
About fluctuo:
Fluctuo specializes in data collection and data analysis on urban mobility, providing operators and cities with the most comprehensive and accurate shared mobility data on the market to help them understand mobility trends.
Founded in 2019, Fluctuo quickly became a trusted partner for shared mobility and public transport companies, MaaS providers and cities.
