Lime Pulls Scooter Fleet in Switzerland After Software Glitch Throws Riders
Lime removes its entire e-scooter fleet in Switzerland after a software glitch causes sudden braking injuries.
Lime removes its entire fleet of electric scooters from Basel and Zurich in Switzerland to conduct urgent safety checks. Multiple riders report sustaining injuries when their scooters brake abruptly in the middle of their trips. The Uber-backed company, reportedly raising funds at a two to three billion dollar valuation, takes this proactive step to prevent further harm to its users.
Engineers investigate whether a recent software update causes the scooters to unexpectedly reboot while in use, which triggers the anti-theft immobilization system. Lime sends a notice to its Swiss users in German and offers a 15-minute free ride credit with the code "LIME-ON-SCHWEIZ" as an apology for the disruption in service. This technical glitch raises serious concerns about the reliability of the smart locks and software controlling these shared vehicles.
This massive fleet pullback follows a troubling pattern of hardware issues for the company, including a November recall of a scooter model that regularly broke apart and a recent removal of scooters that caught fire. As e-scooters face increasing questions about rider liability and opposition from city authorities, these repeated safety failures challenge the industry's claim of providing a safe and environmentally friendly transportation alternative.