A little-known startup is dominating Japan’s growing e-scooter ride market, helped by the backing of regulators who for years stonewalled sharing-economy titans Uber Technologies Inc. and Airbnb Inc.
Tokyo-based Luup KK controls more than 90% of the country’s shared e-scooter market in terms of ride mileage, based on government-compiled data. The startup is now on a spending spree to help it widen its lead by doubling the number of its charging ports to 10,000 by 2025, from a current 4,900. Luup’s closest competitor, Bird’s Japan unit, BRJ Inc., has around 300.
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