It detects unsafe riding behaviours, e.g. riding on sidewalks or prohibited zones, and automatically slows down the scooters. The software fuses data from multiple vehicle sensors and integrates them with the Vehicle Intelligence already onboard “to take real-time action,” according to Superpedestrian.

Scooters with this advanced AI will be rolled out in 25 cities across the US and Europe during 2022.

So far, Link scooters are available in 57 markets in Europe and the US. The expansion is in line with targets the company set last summer.

For the investment round at hand, Jefferies, Antara Capital, the Sony Innovation Fund by IGV and FM Capital, alongside existing backers like Spark Capital, General Catalyst and Citi via the Citi Impact Fund, took part, according to electrive.com.

“Link is the only e-scooter available today with the technological capacity to run the Pedestrian Defense system,” said Jean Andrews, Policy Director of Superpedestrian for UK and Ireland. In the UK particularly, such safety features, i.e. advanced geofencing, are becoming requirements in city tenders.