Berlin-based Tier has become the world’s biggest micro-mobility operator after buying Spin, Ford’s e-bike and e-scooter share company. The move follows the acquisitions of major e-bike share firm Nextbike and Italian market leader Wind Mobility late last year.

The deal means an expansion of Tier’s hire fleet to 300,000 vehicles spread across more than 520 cities worldwide.

It also gives the firm a major presence in the US for the first time.

"Tier’s acquisition of Spin and our entry into the North American market are huge milestones in our mission to change mobility for good,” commented co-founder and CEO, Lawrence Leuschner.

“We are excited to support citizens in cities and communities across North America to make the switch from cars to more sustainable urban mobility solutions – a switch that is urgently needed to decarbonise towns and cities across the world. We look forward to delivering this together with Spin who share our values of responsible partnership and sustainable vision."

In January, Spin pulled out of a number of “free-for-all” e-scooter hire markets, including Germany, Portugal and Spain, suggesting that a lack of sensible regulations was resulting in “race to the bottom pricing”.

CEO Ben Bear said it was hard to see how his firm could attain profitability in open permit markets where multiple firms are permitted to operate with no cap on fleet sizes.

Spin said its plan was to focus on limited vendor markets, primarily in the US, but also in the UK where it has been running schemes in Basildon, Braintree, Brentwood, Chelmsford, Colchester and Milton Keynes.

Spin’s team will continue in North America as a separate entity, while the UK business will be transferred to Tier at a later date.

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