Segway to stop production of iconic two-wheeler personal vehicle

Segway Inc is ending creation of its two-wheeled particular transporter vehicle that acquired recognition amid holidaymakers and some police forces, but uncovered by itself embroiled in mishaps with well known personalities.

Launched practically two decades back, the organization will stop manufacturing the Segway PT setting up July fifteen as it shifts focus to other units this kind of as its shared scooter organization, it claimed on Tuesday. The product accounted for a lot less than 1.five% of the Bedford, New Hampshire-primarily based firm’s profits previous year.

Two other styles, the Segway SE-three Patroller and the Segway Robotics Mobility Platform, will stop creation in a transfer that will lead to 21 career cuts.

The brainchild of inventor Dean Kamen, the authentic Segway product carries one particular person standing on a compact system among two facet-by-facet wheels. Leaning marginally ahead moves the scooter ahead, leaning back reverses study course and turns are manufactured by twisting the tackle.

The organization has also been at the heart of many high-profile crashes, which include the toppling of Jamaican speedster Usain Bolt throughout his victory lap by a Segway-sure cameraman in 2015.

In 2003, previous President George W. Bush was also famously captured on film falling off his Segway.

In April 2015, Chinese transportation robotics company Ninebot acquired the organization, about half a year soon after Segway named Ninebot in a patent infringement criticism. 

The blended organization has since branched out into electric scooters and has develop into the largest supplier for scooter-sharing companies this kind of as Chicken and Lime.