US e-scooter giants set to road test sharing models in Japan

Startups Lime, Bird to begin trials despite strict regulations

20190809 Lime

Lime co-founder Brad Bao rides on its electric scooter. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)

WATARU SUZUKI, Nikkei staff writer

TOKYO -- Two of the world’s biggest electric scooter startups are entering Japan, as the heated race for growth in the sharing economy's latest iteration expands to Asia despite regulatory uncertainty. 

U.S.-based Neutron Holdings, commonly known as Lime, and its main competitor Bird will each hold two-day trials in the western city of Fukuoka between late August and early September, during which their e-scooters will be available for test rides, the local government announced on Friday.

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