Honda's Striemo subsidiary launches electric three-wheel scooter market

On Monday, Striemo, the TOKYO subsidiary of Honda Motor, announced its entry into the electric three-wheel scooter market.

Striemo, a company in Honda's August business creation program, unveiled its eponymous new electric scooter at a press conference. The Striemo weighs 20 kilograms and can travel 30 kilometers on a charge, so the company has begun taking preorders online from individuals for a limited 300 units at 260,000 yen $1,900. The driver manually operates the accelerator and brake, and can make the vehicle turn by shifting his or her weight as if skiing. The three-wheelers are due to go on sale in Japan before the end of the year, and in Europe in 2023.

Under the Japanese law, riders are required to have a Class 1 motorized bicycle license and wear a helmet when riding such machines on public roads. For corporate customers, Striemo will offer a subscription system that will allow them to use the electric scooter off public roads in places like factories and universities by the end of 2022.

In April of this year, the law was revised and will allow electric scooters to use public roads without a driver's license for two years.

At a press conference, Yotaro Mori, the Striemo Chief Executive, predicted market expansion. The legal revision will increase demand, he said.

In order to comply with the revised law, the company intends to develop new models equipped with mirrors, turn signals and indicators that display speeds to pedestrians.

The electric scooter market is dominated by startups at the moment, but major car manufacturers are looking to compete by applying safety technologies that are developed from motorcycle and car manufacturing.