China’s Ninebot unveils scooters that drive themselves to charging stations

The semi-autonomous scooter KickScooter T60, that can return itself to charging stations without a driver, is seen onstage at a Segway-Ninebot product launch event in Beijing, China. — Reuters

BEIJING/HONG KONG: Segway-Ninebot Group, a Beijing-based electric scooter maker, on Aug 16 unveiled a scooter that can return itself to charging stations without a driver, a potential boon for the burgeoning scooter-sharing industry.

Ninebot said Uber and Lyft, the ride-hailing giants that are expanding into scooter-sharing, would be among the customers for the new semi-autonomous vehicles that are expected to hit roads early next year.