Unagi launches its own, more exclusive version of shared micromobility

Tracking down a shabby shared electric scooter with germs on the wheel is not Unagi’s idea of ​​sexual cooperative micromobility. Instead, the e-scooter maker is launching a more exclusive version where its sleek e-scooters can be rented from hotels, luxury apartments and co-working spaces.

“Unagi on Demand”, as the offer is called, starts at tHoxton Hotel in Los Angeles, and Common Luxury Apartments, Nap York Sleeping Pods and The Yard Coworking in New York. The move signals a change in Unagi’s current business model, which is primarily focused on sales and subscriptions to their e-scooters.

“This fits in with our overall strategy as we select locations that don’t require the brutal logistics and unit economics that sharing services are subject to, which in our view makes these models very difficult to thrive in.” – David Hyman, CEO and founder of Unagi, told TechCrunch. “It also serves as a marketing tool for our scooter rental subscription service. We love it when people get a hotel experience and then want it for everyday use. In fact, this is not our main business, but an additional one. We launched it due to numerous incoming requests.”

However, Hyman believes that Unagi On-Demand could be a significant revenue stream for the business in the long term, given that there is still plenty of room for expansion beyond these initial pilot projects. For starters, Unagi will have six cars in Hoxton, six more in Nap York, eight at one Common Luxury location, and 12 cars at three yard locations.

“Obviously the goal is to get big hotel chains and developers with lots of real estate,” Hyman said, adding that Unagi has a significant expansion with a partnership that it can’t announce in the works just yet.

Currently, companies offering Unagi scooters are enjoying a 0% to 10% revenue share, according to Hyman, who says many are simply interested in adding scooters as an added value to provide more convenience to guests.

“Unagi fits perfectly with the culture, community and design of our co-working spaces.” said Michelle Segev, senior operations manager at The Yard. “Unagi is adding a super convenient transportation system for Yard members, allowing them to focus on their business rather than the logistics of running errands and traveling to meetings around town.”

Unagi On-Demand also touches on the growing popularity of electric scooters for comfortable rides in urban environments that aren’t too car-centric. At the same time, choosing a clientele, Unagi continues to position itself as a fashionable luxury brand.

Unagi’s Model One scooter currently costs around $1,000, but its latest scooter, the Model Eleven, is equipped with advanced driver assistance features. can cost over $2,800. Monthly rental of Model One costs about $50 per month.