UAE – Mubasher: Careem, a Dubai-based ride-hailing company, on Tuesday announced it has entered the micro-mobility space with the acquisition of Abu Dhabi-based bike-sharing services startup Cyacle.
This acquisition comes as part of Careem’s overall platform strategy aiming to offer complete affordable mobility solutions and first- and last-mile mobility, as well as enhance transport options in the region, according to a press release.
Careem, which was bought by Uber Technologies Inc for $3.1 billion, seeks to extend the micro-mobility footprint across the region over the next 12 months.
Accordingly, Careem and Cyacle will launch a new app that will be available for users through iOS and Android.
The app will provide users with bikes through a range of daily to yearly memberships and users can get the bikes via app or physically at one of the smart docking stations with credit and debit cards.
Magnus Olsson, Careem’s CXO and co-founder, said: “This deal means Careem will be able to improve micro-mobility in the region and simplify one of the most important mobility issues - the first and last mile problem.”
“Many journeys are relatively short in distance, including those to and from transportation hubs such as metro and bus stations, so increasing bicycle availability and expanding routes will transform how people commute, as well as offering micro-mobility solutions for short-distance trips,” Olsson added.
Sami Amin, CEO of Cyacle said: “It’s exciting to be taking micro-mobility to the next level becoming an integral part of life in the capital, and with Careem now involved it will accelerate the service and improve the lives of so many more people in the region.”
Cyacle, founded in December 2014, is a leading fully-automated docked bikeshare service based in Abu Dhabi with stations operating 24-hours a day via an app.
