Retail Giants Turn To e-Bikes and e-Scooters

ZÜRICH, Switzerland – After UK’s supermarket giant Tesco and nationwide retailers Halfords and Argos also the huge retail chains in other European countries are focusing on e-Bikes and e-Scooters. Like the Swiss Migros Group.

With a yearly turnover of close to CHF 25 billion (€ 17.7 bn) Migros is Switzerland’s largest retailer and parent company of (among others) the SportXX chain. In its 55 stores Sport XX sells sporting and outdoor products including bikes and P&A.   

The Swiss Migros Group is entering the e-Mobility market under its M-way brand name. According to a press release: “M-way is Migros Group’s platform for e-Energy- and e-Mobility solutions. First fleet customer is Alpmobil, a tourism project in the Grimsel region that is offering 60 e-Mobiles to its visitors.

Migros plans a leading role in the e-Mobility market as: “Individual mobility will remarkably change over the next years and e-Mobiles will take up a significant role.” For its ‘leading role’ the Swiss retail giant starts selling e-Bikes, e-Scooters and even e-Cars; will build the infrastructure for a national e-Rental system and will also establish an independent competence- and service center under the M-way brand name.

As from next fall Zürich will have an integrated M-way e-Mobility rental system while other Swiss cities are to follow. According to a press release this system includes flexible e-Mobility service for companies and public institutions; affordable e-Mobility access with renting and sales of two- and four-wheelers.

First e-Mobiles are the ‘Think City’ e-Car and the e-Scooter called ‘eWave’. Further e-Mobiles will follow (editor’s note: it is not explicit mentioned if e-Bikes are part of this is likely as one of Migros’ e-Bike suppliers is German Pantherwerke); e-Mobility service through a web-based platform with insurance, financing, service, maintenance and consulting.

“With M-way we force the development of flexible, environmental-friendly mobility,” states Herbert Bolliger, president of the Migros-Genosschenschafts-Bund’s (MGB) general management. “Thanks to the M-way service package we will make e-Mobility affordable and easy accessible for all.” For the near future Migros intends to study the possibility of producing solar energy at its nationwide Migrol gas station network.