Bird downsizing pulls e-scooters from select European countries and US cities

Bird scooter and bike
(Image credit: Bird)

Electric scooter company Bird continues to downsize as it has announced its machines will be exiting several regions in an effort to stay afloat.

The company states it’s going to “fully exit” Germany, Sweden, and Norway as well as several “small to mid-sized markets” across the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, although it didn’t mention which exact locations. However, we do know of one: Atchison, Kansas, which recently revealed that Bird is pausing all operations in the city indefinitely. The city goes on to say Bird didn’t see Atchison as a good location “to support [its] near-term requirements for building an enduring business.” This reasoning falls in line with the company’s official statement on the downsizing.

Low support

Bird states the reason for its exiting is due to a “lack of robust regulatory framework” in local regions. The company claims some locations are not as conducive to its e-scooter business model as others. Support is available in some cities, but not others. Bird then goes on to blame the high amount of vehicles in these regions leading to “overcrowded streets,” along with stiff competition from rivals as other reasons for closing up shop. 

From here, the company will start weeding out cities it considers to be nonviable to instead focus on ones with the “right regulatory framework and business environment”. Unfortunately, this downsizing will affect Bird employees in these regions. While it doesn’t say it outright in the announcement, Bird alludes to these people losing their jobs. 

Absent from the announcement is any mention of fleet managers. According to Bird, these are the local businesses and entrepreneurs who manage fleets of the company’s e-scooters within their local area. Managers pay a fee to the company and in return they can earn an income on the machines. Presumably, they’re losing their jobs as well, which may result in them taking the hardest blow out of anybody. The fleet manager program has been criticized in the past for putting people into thousands of dollars in debt for machines they will never truly own. It's possible something similar can happen with fleet managers losing their business overnight.

We reached out to Bird to see if they would like to make a statement. A company spokesperson got back to us and essentially reiterated what Bird said in its announcement: that it will focus “towards cities and countries that have put the right regulatory framework and business environment in place…”

Recent trend

Sadly, Bird’s downsizing continues this year’s trend of tech companies laying off employees. In fact, back in June, the company laid off 23 percent of its employees as a way to cut costs. Something similar is happening at Microsoft with the company laying off some of its employees, although it didn’t say how many. (One anonymous source claims about 1,000 jobs will get the axe.) In a similar vein, companies like Meta have enacted hiring freezes as a way to stay afloat in these tough times.

The particularly unfortunate thing about the Bird downsizing is that it affects the customer just as much since people are losing a mode of transportation. If you find Bird scooters disappearing in your area, we recommend checking out TechRadar’s best e-scooter list for 2022 to get an idea for a more permanent solution. 

Cesar Cadenas
Contributor

Cesar Cadenas has been writing about the tech industry for several years now specializing in consumer electronics, entertainment devices, Windows, and the gaming industry. But he’s also passionate about smartphones, GPUs, and cybersecurity. 

Read more
Google logo at Made by Google
Not even Google is safe from job cuts - cloud, HR roles set to go
Tesla Model 3
Tesla's EV sales are plummeting – as used Model Y and Model 3 prices crash to bargain levels
Volkswagen ID4
Big names drop off the EV federal tax credit list in the US, as government cracks down on China
Microsoft
Microsoft reveals another round of job cuts
Google Pixel 9 in wintergreen
Google offers ‘voluntary exit’ for any US employees working on Pixel, Android
Google CEO Sundar Pichai
Google CEO reveals major job cuts as part of "efficiency" move
Latest in E-Scooters
Hamsh Hector riding the Xyber e-bikes
This Segway e-bike is unlike anything I’ve ridden before – and I love it
The Segway GT3 and GT3 Pro being ridden through the desert
Thinking of getting an e-scooter? Segway has 7 new options for you to consider
Unagi Model One Voyager overlooking Los Angeles
Unagi Model One Voyager review: just as stunning but now longer-lasting
Honda Motocompacto
Honda's suitcase-style microscooter is a brilliantly impractical way to commute
Razor EcoSmart Cargo outdoors
Razor EcoSmart Cargo review: a scooter and a cargo bike in one
GoTrax Apex LE on an overlook in Los Angeles
GoTrax Apex LE review: pretty enough to eat, reliable enough to ride
Latest in News
PowerColor Red Devil AMD RX 9070 XT graphics card shown side-on
Your next GPU could be from AMD, not Nvidia, if Team Red’s success with PC gamers continues
Quordle on a smartphone held in a hand
Quordle hints and answers for Tuesday, March 18 (game #1149)
NYT Strands homescreen on a mobile phone screen, on a light blue background
NYT Strands hints and answers for Tuesday, March 18 (game #380)
NYT Connections homescreen on a phone, on a purple background
NYT Connections hints and answers for Tuesday, March 18 (game #646)
Samsung Galaxy S24 hands on handheld back straight white
The Samsung Galaxy S24 is getting one of the S25’s biggest video upgrades with One UI 7 – here’s why Log Video matters
AI fashion
I asked ChatGPT 4o, Gemini Live, and Siri what to wear, and only one could really help me look my best