On a picture-perfect weekend day on the Boston Common, you could see plenty of people exploring the sights on foot, but what stood out were a few cruising the area on Segway scooters.
That’s what Segway-Ninebot wants, according to company representatives, who envision their e-products as a short-distance alternative to cars, public transportation, and even walking in big cities like Boston.
It’s also not hurting sales that rising gas prices are causing consumers to look for other modes of transportation, according to Tom Hebert, Segway’s VP of Sales.
“What we love to do is not just talk about great products, but to show that you can actually ride, use, and honestly trust that the Segway product will be there for you when you need it.” said Herbert.
“What our consumers find and use our product for is the daily commute. They depend on Segway products to get them from work to home, from work to play, or from home to the grocery store.”
It’s a pitch the company — formerly known as Segway, Inc., based in New Hampshire before it was acquired by Chinese firm Ninebot in 2015 — has been making for more than two decades. When his iconic two-wheeled people carrier, the Segway HT, was released in 2001, company founder Dean Kamen promised it would revolutionize city transportation.
But two years ago, Segway announced it would end production of what would later be dubbed the Segway PT, which the AP said accounted for less than 1.5% of its sales in 2019, though it’s become a staple in the law enforcement and tourism industry.
The company has matured in its product line since its inception, Hebert said, and is making another push to try to sell the redesigned Segway as a reliable option in cities like Boston that are concerned with public transit and parking issues.
It’s running a social-media-friendly campaign, Segway Across America, now in its third year, which sees an influencer riding a Segway across part of the country.
This year, 22-year-old Instagram influencer Yasmine Ashley traverses more than 1,400 miles from Niagara Falls, NY to Miami, Florida on an E110A eScooter, Segway’s latest product announced in March.
The campaign’s “East Coast Edition” made its second of four planned stops in Everett on Saturday, where the public had the opportunity to test-drive the range of Segway products but not the E110A, which was parked at a purely for aesthetic reasons Pop-up tent outside of Best Buy.
Lien Chen, director of marketing at Segway, said Ashley was selected for this year’s challenge because of her commitment to sustainability, which aligns with the company’s mission.
“Being from the west coast, I don’t get to adventure down the east coast very often,” said Ashley, a San Diego beach and surf enthusiast. “It’s long but I look forward to all the places to visit along the way.”
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