Are electric scooters popular in Russia? Why?

Are electric scooters popular in Russia? Why?
In today's globalized market, electric scooters, as a convenient short-distance means of transportation, have different popularity in different countries and regions. For the Russian market, the popularity of electric scooters is affected by many factors, including market demand, consumer preferences, policy support, etc. This article will explore in depth whether electric scooters are popular in Russia and the reasons behind it.

1. Market performance of electric scooters in Russia
(I) Sales data
In recent years, the Russian electric scooter market has shown a rapid growth trend. According to relevant data, the sales volume of electric scooters in Russia in 2022 increased by 43% year-on-year to 245,000 units. This data shows that electric scooters have high demand and popularity in the Russian market. However, the annual sales volume of electric scooters in Russia in 2024 fell by 24% compared with 2023, the offline purchase transaction volume fell by 26% year-on-year, and the sales revenue fell by 36%. This may be due to factors such as the popularity of sharing services, stricter user responsibilities, and the increase in the number of traffic accidents.
(II) Consumer Preferences
In terms of consumer preferences, electric scooters are also widely popular in Russia. According to a poll, in the summer of 2022, the number of Russians riding electric scooters and electric balance bikes increased by 1.5 times compared with the previous year, and 91% of the respondents preferred electric scooters. This shows that Russian consumers have a high degree of acceptance and love for electric scooters.
(III) Market Development
The Russian electric scooter market is developing rapidly. Although its market size is not as large as that in Europe and the United States, its future development prospects are considerable. Chinese brands occupy a large share of the Russian electric scooter market, such as Kugoo, Hiper, Ninebot and other brands, among which Kugoo is the market leader. The Russian government has also given certain support to the electric scooter market, such as investing 75 million rubles to promote the shared electric scooter project.

2. Reasons why electric scooters are popular in Russia
(I) Meeting the needs of short-distance travel
Russia's urban traffic congestion problem is relatively serious. As a light and flexible means of transportation, electric scooters can effectively solve the problem of the "last mile" of urban transportation and meet the needs of people for short-distance travel and public transportation transfers. For office workers and students, electric scooters can easily shuttle between crowded streets and subway stations, saving time and energy.
(II) Economical
Compared with traditional taxis and private cars, electric scooters have a lower cost of use. Consumers can choose to buy electric scooters as personal transportation or rent shared electric scooters, and the cost is relatively reasonable. In Moscow, the average price of an electric scooter for 10 minutes of riding is 115 rubles, and the price is lower in other areas. In addition, the maintenance cost of electric scooters is relatively low, and they do not need to be maintained and repaired as frequently as cars.
(III) Environmental advantages
With the improvement of environmental awareness, more and more Russian consumers tend to choose environmentally friendly means of transportation. As a zero-emission means of transportation, electric scooters meet the requirements of modern cities for environmental protection and help reduce urban air pollution and noise pollution. In Russia, the government is also actively promoting green travel and encouraging people to use environmentally friendly transportation tools such as electric scooters.
(IV) Policy support
The Russian government has given certain policy support to the development of the electric scooter market. For example, the government invested 75 million rubles to promote the shared electric scooter project, which provides strong financial support for the development of the electric scooter market. In addition, the Russian government is also gradually improving the laws and regulations and infrastructure construction related to electric scooters to provide consumers with a safer and more convenient environment for using electric scooters.
(V) Brand and product advantages
Chinese brands have strong competitiveness in the Russian electric scooter market, and their products have been recognized by Russian consumers in terms of quality and performance. For example, Chinese brands such as Kugoo, Hiper, and Ninebot occupy a large share in the Russian market. The products of these brands have a high cost-effectiveness and can meet the needs of different consumers.

III. Challenges faced by electric scooters in Russia
(I) Safety issues
With the popularity of electric scooters, their safety issues have become increasingly prominent. According to data from the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, there were many accidents involving electric scooters in 2023 alone. In order to reduce safety risks, the Russian government has introduced a series of management measures, such as implementing a speed limit of 15 km/h in the center of Moscow and a maximum permissible speed of 25 km/h for personal motor vehicles.
(II) Seasonal restrictions
Due to the climate characteristics of Russia, electric scooters are usually only suitable for outdoor riding from May to October. In the cold winter, the use of electric scooters is greatly restricted, which to a certain extent affects its market demand and popularity.
(III) Market competition
With the continuous development of the electric scooter market, market competition is becoming increasingly fierce. In addition to Chinese brands, brands from other countries and regions are also actively entering the Russian market, which has intensified competition in the Russian electric scooter market and made consumers' choices more diverse.

IV. Conclusion
In summary, electric scooters have a certain degree of popularity in the Russian market, mainly due to meeting short-distance travel needs, economic benefits, environmental advantages, policy support, and brand and product advantages. However, electric scooters also face challenges such as safety issues, seasonal restrictions and market competition in the Russian market. In the future, with the continuous advancement of technology, further improvement of policies and the continuous changes in consumer demand, the development prospects of electric scooters in the Russian market are still worth looking forward to. Manufacturers and related companies need to pay close attention to market trends and continuously optimize products and services to better meet the needs of Russian consumers and enhance the competitiveness and popularity of electric scooters in the Russian market.