built for two: bird is launching a two-seater electric moped this summer

e-scooter sharing platform bird is launching a new electric moped this summer. the two-seater ‘bird cruiser’ is designed to be part of the startup’s shared vehicles fleet and marks the first time the company has branched out into field other than scooters.

the bird cruiser can seat up to two people and comes with a cushioned seat which is elongated to accomodate both riders. the newest addition is available in the brand’s classic monochrome colorway and comes equipped with hydraulic disc brakes, a 52-volt battery, and full suspension.

images courtesy of bird

bird has confirmed to verge that the moped was being designed by a third party but will be exclusive to its fleet. the company also revealed that its top speed would comply with local rules for vehicles like this – meaning it probably won’t exceed 30mph.

the scooter-sharing company has expand its business in recent months. in may, it rolled out an all-new custom scooter featuring a steel-reinforced aluminum frame. more durable scooters is one of the ways bird wants to make their business more profitable. bird is coming up against businesses like uber and lyft who offer scooters within their apps, in addition to cars and bikes. 

like birds scooter model, customers will be able to rent the cruiser on a monthly basis although it hasn’t given any information on how much that will cost yet. it also announced plans to buy the new customer scooter outright for $1,299. whether or not the cruiser will be available to buy is yet to be confirmed.

in addition to bird, other companies are responding to the growing demand for commuter scooters in cities and metropolitan areas. earlier this year, layer collaborated with chinese automotive company NIO to design an electric scooter fitted with an artificially intelligent companion to help riders on their way. harley davidson is also working on an electric scooter concept and vespa has electrified its classic vespa scooter.