Amsterdam-based scooter startup Dott arrives in Israel with Tel Aviv launch

Dott is better known for its e-scooter-sharing services across many European cities. We covered Dott when the Amsterdam-based scooter startup launched its e-Bikes on the streets of Paris in October 2021. Since then, Dott has expanded its footprints in cities across Europe.

Today, Dott announced the launch of its shared e-scooter services in Israel in its first market outside Europe. With this launch, Dott’s e-scooters will unlock the city of Tel Aviv with the lowest fares in the city, providing a reliable service that will help to create cleaner air and less congestion for residents.

As part of the launch, Dott will also make a fleet of 1,800 e-scooters available for Tel Aviv residents and visitors, allowing users to benefit from an enjoyable travel experience that makes it easy to discover new areas and unlock new experiences.

The electric scooter market space is saturated with hundreds of startups competing for their shares of the market. The two major players Bird and Lime have raised over $870 million in the US and expanded to Europe. However, one startup says it has what it takes to compete in the European market that many estimated could be worth about $35 billion.

Dott is a new scooter and electric bike startup founded by two former executives of Chinese bike startup Ofo, Maxim Romain, and Henri Moissinac. After surviving the Chinese bike-sharing bubble, the duo decided to launch Dott, a micro-mobility European startup that offers dock-less, shared electrical scooters, and bikes as alternatives for short-distance travel.

In 2018, the year it was founded, Dott raised €20 million ($23 million) from media firm Naspers, European venture capital firm EQT Ventures, and a number of other backers, including Axel Springer. In 2019, Dott ran a pilot program with 100 scooters in the French capital’s startup hub Station F.

Commenting on the launch, Ben Gailli, Dott City Manager in Tel Aviv, said: “Our e-scooters offer the most efficient way to travel across Tel Aviv without causing congestion or pollution and at the lowest prices. We are bringing our experience from major European cities to ensure that our service is carefully integrated into the city, offering a reliable service for our riders whilst respecting other road users and pedestrians.”

The environment and social impact are at the heart of every business decision at Dott. The micro-mobility company is working to reuse, upcycle or recycle 100% of used vehicles and parts, and aims to exceed a five-year life-span for its vehicles. Dott is targeting a 100% electric logistics fleet and renewable energy in all its cities.

The service is designed to be as accessible as possible, and Dott works closely with local communities, aiming for equal coverage across the areas it serves and partnering with local organizations to help improve the cities in which it operates.