Ninebot

In 2013 in Beijing the group of the Chinese engineers-robototekhnikov within the project of crowd funding creates Ninebot company.

By 2015 its products — the electric self-balanced scooters on one or two wheels — became widely known in the world. At this time Ninebot scooters are on sale almost in 40 countries of the world. In the USA, for example, one-wheeled Ninebot can be purchased for $850, and two-wheeled — for $3199. In China the police officers patrolling Tiananmen Square in Beijing use these scooters.

History

Purchase of the American Segway

In April, 2015 it became known that Ninebot purchased the American competitor Segway. The cost of the transaction was not disclosed, but for its carrying out Ninebot received financing from a number of large investment companies for the amount of $80 million.

Among investors — the smartphone manufacturer of Xiaomi owning a controlling stake in Ninebot, Sequoia Capital investment fund and some other the companies. As a result of the transaction Segway became Ninebot subsidiary company and both companies continued work everyone under own brand. Within the transaction of Ninebot purchased all assets of the American company, including patents for creation of scooters, and such patents at Segway more than 400^[1].

Notes