Electric scooters vanish from Imatra streets mid-season as operator relocates fleet

Tier-Dott, the operator of electric scooters in Imatra for three consecutive summers, withdrew its fleet from the city in July without prior notice to local authorities.

According to Väinö Juvakka, city engineer for Imatra, the municipality had not received any communication from Tier-Dott regarding the removal of the scooters, which require a micro-transit license issued by the city. Imatra has a population of approximately 24,000.

Elina Bürkland, Finland country manager for Tier-Dott, confirmed that demand in Imatra did not justify the operational costs. At the same time, demand in other cities exceeded expectations, prompting the company to relocate the vehicles elsewhere for the remainder of the season.

The company has not yet decided whether it will return to Imatra next summer. Bürkland stated that Tier-Dott aims for long-term partnerships with cities but continuously monitors usage and shifts scooters to areas with higher demand.

Juvakka expressed disappointment over the sudden withdrawal, noting that the scooters had enhanced local public transport. No other companies have applied for micro-transit licenses in Imatra, he added.