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Press release #Mobility
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Salut Paris! Bosch’s e-scooter sharing service COUP launches in France

  • Bosch’s shared mobility platform COUP launches in Paris
  • 600 rentable e-scooters will be available in France’s capital starting summer 2017
  • Bosch board of management member Dr. Markus Heyn: “Paris is the perfect place for us to expand the COUP service.”

Salut Paris! Greater freedom and riding enjoyment instead of traffic jam: the e-scooter sharing service known as COUP is set to roll out another option for urban transport in the French metropolis starting summer 2017. Instead of squeezing into the overcrowded Metro, searching for a parking spot for hours, or getting stuck in a congestion nightmare around the Arc de Triomphe, Parisians will be able to make their way quickly and flexibly through the city’s hectic traffic. Starting this summer, 600 rentable scooters from COUP will hit the streets of the city on the Seine. Reserve, book, and ride off: for Paris, the electric speedsters are an easy-to-use alternative to public transportation, your own car, or a taxi.

COUP’s launch has surpassed expectations. The success has given us the confidence to expand the sharing service to another European city.

Dr. Markus Heyn, a member of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH

The expansion to France marks another step for Bosch in its efforts to establish itself as a provider of connected mobility solutions. The e-scooter sharing provider COUP, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Robert Bosch GmbH, launched a new business field in the Mobility Services operating unit in the past year in Berlin. The opportunity to experience the city with greater flexibility and less fuss on two wheels has proved popular. “COUP’s launch has surpassed expectations. The success has given us the confidence to expand the sharing service to another European city,” said Dr. Markus Heyn, a member of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH.

Greater mobility and freedom in urban traffic

Paris is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. For years, the city has had to contend with high levels of particulate pollution, a lack of parking spots, and traffic jams. Scooters are increasingly becoming established as a practical means of transportation. Through electric vehicles available on demand as part of a sharing model, COUP aims to further reduce urban traffic and make it far more eco-friendly. “Paris is the perfect place for us to expand the COUP service. By taking this step, we aim to be a pioneer of efficient urban mobility,” Heyn said. Young people in particular want to hit the city streets without any stress, but they do not necessarily want to own a vehicle. “Urban mobility is going to change radically over the next few years. Bosch wants to help shape this transformation with mobility and service solutions − and understand users’ requirements with regard to these services,” Heyn said.

On the road − efficiently

Anyone who is over 21 years old and has a Class B driver’s license or an international driver’s license can use the service. Through the service’s app, users can locate, reserve, and book the closest e-scooter without any hassle − and then simply set off. No key is necessary. A helmet and two replaceable batteries are located under the seat. COUP takes care of charging the batteries, which means customers do not have to worry about a thing. The scooters are powered by green electricity and can travel at speeds of up to 45 kph. Users can park the scooters in specially designated zones within COUP’s business territory. COUP makes it easy for users to calculate their rides with their pricing model, four Euros per 30 minutes and one Euro for every ten minutes thereafter.

Connected services are part of the corporate strategy in the Mobility Solutions business sector − and are becoming an integral element of Bosch’s business. For example, Bosch is already developing solutions for a connected parking lot management system, for a cloud-based fleet management system, as well as for an app-based mobility assistant targeting the multimodal use of various means of transportation. The COUP sharing service represents another building block in the Mobility Solutions business sector.

Mobility is the largest Bosch Group business sector. In 2023, its sales came to 56.2 billion euros, or just under 60 percent of total Group sales. This makes the Bosch Group one of the leading mobility suppliers. Bosch Mobility pursues a vision of mobility that is safe, sustainable, and exciting. For its customers, the outcome is integrated mobility solutions. The business sector’s main areas of activity are electrification, software and services, semiconductors and sensors, vehicle computers, advanced driver assistance systems, systems for vehicle dynamics control, repair-shop concepts, as well as technology and services for the automotive aftermarket. Bosch is synonymous with important automotive innovations, such as electronic engine management, the ESP anti-skid system, and common-rail diesel technology.

The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. It employs roughly 429,000 associates worldwide (as of December 31, 2023). The company generated sales of 91.6 billion euros in 2023. Its operations are divided into four business sectors: Mobility, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology. With its business activities, the company aims to use technology to help shape universal trends such as automation, electrification, digitalization, connectivity, and an orientation to sustainability. In this context, Bosch’s broad diversification across regions and industries strengthens its innovativeness and robustness. Bosch uses its proven expertise in sensor technology, software, and services to offer customers cross-domain solutions from a single source. It also applies its expertise in connectivity and artificial intelligence in order to develop and manufacture user-friendly, sustainable products. With technology that is “Invented for life,” Bosch wants to help improve quality of life and conserve natural resources. The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its roughly 470 subsidiary and regional companies in over 60 countries. Including sales and service partners, Bosch’s global manufacturing, engineering, and sales network covers nearly every country in the world. Bosch’s innovative strength is key to the company’s further development. At 136 locations across the globe, Bosch employs some 90,000 associates in research and development, of which nearly 48,000 are software engineers.

Additional information is available online at www.bosch.com, www.iot.bosch.com, www.bosch-press.com.

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