In this episode of the Micromobility Podcast, Prabin Joel Jones, CEO of Micromobility Industries, sits down with Kersten Heineke, Partner and Co-Lead at the McKinsey Center for Future Mobility, to explore the past, present, and future of micromobility.
The conversation traces the evolution of the industry from the early scooter boom years of 2018 and 2019 to today’s more disciplined, operations-focused market. They discuss how the shift from growth at all costs to profitability reshaped shared micromobility, including improvements in vehicle durability, total cost of ownership, battery swapping, and city collaboration through tenders and fleet caps.
Kersten explains how McKinsey modeled the total addressable market for micromobility and what the projected 340 billion dollar opportunity by 2030 really represents. The discussion goes beyond scooters and bikes to include microcars, quadricycles, and new urban form factors that could unlock additional car trip replacement.
The episode also explores why navigation remains a challenge for micromobility users, whether operators should rethink their business models, and how platforms like Uber, Bolt, and Lyft approach micromobility differently.
Looking ahead, the conversation turns to autonomy. Will robotaxis lead to smaller, purpose-built urban vehicles? Could autonomous fleets reshape the role of micromobility in cities? And what does this mean for founders, investors, and policymakers building the next decade of urban mobility?
Topics covered:
• The shift from land-grab expansion to operational discipline
• How vehicle design and TCO changed the economics of scooters
• Fleet caps, tenders, and city regulation
• The 340B micromobility market opportunity
• Microcars and new vehicle categories
• Platform strategy in mobility
• The intersection of micromobility and autonomous vehicles
Articles referenced in the episode:
1. https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-explainers/what-is-micromobility
2. https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/automotive-and-assembly/our-insights/spotlight-on-mobility-trends#section-header-5
3. https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/automotive-and-assembly/our-insights/the-two-wheeled-commute-micromobility-and-your-future
