2025 Russian Electric Scooter Market Boom: Trends & Outlook

In 2025, the Russian electric scooter market is experiencing a true boom. Statistics show impressive growth in sales of personal mobility devices against the backdrop of stricter rules for rental services. We explore what is driving this trend and what prospects await the industry.

Figures That Speak for Themselves

The first four months of 2025 demonstrated radical changes in the preferences of Russian consumers. Electric scooter sales grew by one and a half to two times compared to the same period last year. Especially telling are the data from the largest marketplace, Wildberries: sales increased by 111% in monetary terms and by 130% in unit terms. An interesting detail—the average ticket decreased by 8%, indicating the democratization of the market and the appearance of more affordable models. At the same time, as distributors note, prices for popular models from leading manufacturers not only did not rise but in some cases even fell thanks to the stabilization of logistics chains from China.

Why Russians Are Abandoning Kicksharing

The main reason for the switch to personal electric scooters lies in the growing restrictions on rental services. Kicksharing companies have significantly tightened usage rules, creating discomfort for active users. The most painful change for many was the threefold increase in fines for giving electric scooters to minors. Whoosh and “MTS Urent” companies raised the penalty from 10,000 to 30,000 rubles, and in Moscow this figure already reaches 100,000 rubles. An additional punishment is the complete blocking of the offender’s account. The procedure for accessing rental scooters is also becoming more complicated. In 2025–2026, mandatory verification through the “Gosuslugi” portal is planned, creating additional barriers for spontaneous use of this type of transport.

Advantages of Personal Electric Transport

Owners of personal electric scooters gain significant freedom of action. Unlike rental service users, they are almost impossible to fine for typical violations—riding two abreast or refusing to dismount at pedestrian crossings. Liability arises only in the event of a traffic accident. Personal electric scooters have no speed limits imposed by kicksharing operators. This is especially relevant for those who use this type of transport for daily commutes to work or running errands around the city. The economic factor also plays an important role. With regular use, buying one’s own device turns out to be more profitable than constant rental, especially given the increase in rental service rates.

Geographical Features of Demand

The growth in popularity of personal electric scooters is particularly noticeable in regions with strict regulation of kicksharing. Saint Petersburg leads in demand, which is directly related to the restrictive policy of the city authorities towards rental services. Residents of smaller towns and rural settlements, where rental services have not yet been introduced, actively purchase electric scooters. For such settlements, personal electric transport becomes the only alternative to walking for covering short distances.

Hidden Risks of Personal Electric Scooters

Despite all the advantages of personal electric transport, experts note serious safety issues. According to the Association of Micromobility Operators, fatal accidents involving private electric scooters are twice as many as those with rental ones. The main reason is the lack of speed restrictions and more reckless behavior by owners. Private electric scooters are less noticeable in urban traffic due to their predominantly black coloring, increasing the risk of accidents. In addition, current legislation allows such devices to be purchased by children, creating additional safety threats. According to experts’ estimates, there are about 2 million private personal mobility devices in Russia—twice as many as rental ones. At the same time, they are almost not controlled by the state or municipal authorities.

Market Figures and Development Prospects

In the first four months of 2025, 180,000 personal mobility devices were sold into private hands. Interest in electric transport is not limited to scooters—demand for electric bicycles (a 440% increase in monetary terms), electric mopeds, and even electric motorcycles is rising significantly. An interesting trend is related to the equipment renewal cycle. Since active demand for electric scooters began about two years ago, many owners are now due to replace devices that have reached the end of their service life.

What Awaits the Market in the Future

Experts predict an ambiguous development of the situation. On the one hand, rising rental service prices will stimulate a further shift to personal transport. Kicksharing operators are forced to factor in growing risks and regulatory costs into their rates. On the other hand, the government is beginning to pay attention to the problems associated with private electric scooters. Toughening of rules for individuals is expected, which may cut off the most problematic category of users—about 30% of all owners who regularly violate traffic rules. Such changes may lead to a decrease in the number of users in the long term but will simultaneously raise the overall culture of electric transport use in the urban environment.

Sociological Profile of Users

Studies reveal interesting demographic peculiarities of electric scooter use. Younger riders are more often male, while among older users women prevail. The gender balance equalizes in the 50–54 age group. This suggests that electric scooters are ceasing to be just a youthful pastime and are becoming a fully-fledged means of transport for all age groups of city dwellers.

Conclusion

The Russian electric scooter market is undergoing a period of transformation. The shift from the kicksharing model to personal ownership reflects deeper changes in urban residents’ transport behavior. Despite the risks and problems, this trend indicates the formation of a new transport culture, where environmental friendliness, mobility, and independence become key factors in choice. Further market development will depend on the government’s ability to find a balance between ensuring safety and preserving the attractiveness of this type of transport for the mass consumer.