Bolt has introduced a new next-generation scooter, with upgrades focused on improving rider experience, safety, and how the vehicles fit into city environments.

The company has started deploying more than 22k units of its new scooter across Germany, Belgium, and Switzerland. The most immediately noticeable change is something riders will see the moment they step up to the vehicle: a full-colour display built directly into the handlebars.

The screen shows turn-by-turn navigation, flags slow zones and no-parking areas, and highlights designated parking spots, all within the rider's natural line of sight, without requiring them to glance at a phone. It also displays trip information and local alerts in the local language, which becomes genuinely useful when riding in an unfamiliar city or neighbourhood where signage may not be immediately obvious.

“We wanted to make riding feel as natural and stress-free as possible. This scooter changes how people ride. Instead of guessing local rules, riders receive clear, real-time information directly from the vehicle. It creates a more predictable and intuitive experience, especially in unfamiliar or complex traffic situations, allowing riders to focus on the ride itself.”

- Ardo Reinsalu, Director of Vehicles at Bolt

AI That Watches the Road With You

Beyond the display, the scooter carries on-vehicle AI that actively monitors rider behaviour and environment in real time. The system can detect when a rider moves onto a pavement, recognise parking racks nearby, and identify when the scooter is entering a restricted or sensitive area, responding with guidance rather than waiting for a post-trip penalty or warning.

This is a shift from the way compliance has traditionally worked in shared scooter schemes, where rules were largely enforced after the fact through app notifications, fines, or geofencing-based restrictions. By building that layer of intelligence into the vehicle itself, Bolt is moving the intervention earlier in the journey, during the ride, rather than after it.

“This approach moves compliance to real-time guidance,” added Reinsalu. “By supporting better decisions during the ride, it helps reduce pavement riding and improve parking. It’s the result of continuous feedback from riders and close collaboration with cities, and reflects a broader shift towards more responsible and better-integrated micromobility to actively support safer and more organised streets.”

Safety Upgrades Built Into the Hardware

Several of the new scooter's improvements are purely physical. The headlight is four times more powerful than the previous model, giving riders better visibility in low-light conditions and making the scooter more visible to other road users earlier. Braking has been recalibrated to feel smoother and more controlled, particularly relevant in dense urban traffic where sudden stops are common. An audible overspeed alert activates on steep descents, giving riders an additional prompt to manage their speed.

The handlebar height has also been lowered slightly, making the scooter more comfortable and accessible for riders of varying heights, a small ergonomic change that can make a real difference across a large and varied user base.

Built to Stay on the Road Longer

Fleet availability is a persistent operational challenge for shared micromobility operators, a scooter undergoing maintenance is one that cannot generate revenue or serve riders. Bolt says the new model improves durability by at least 15% in regular operations, achieved through simplified internal components that reduce the frequency of breakdowns and cut maintenance time when they do occur.

For cities, that consistency matters as much as it does for the operator, a more reliable fleet means fewer complaints, fewer abandoned scooters blocking footpaths, and a service that riders can actually count on being available when they need it.

Bolt operates over 250k e-bikes and scooters across 250 cities in 25 countries, making it the largest shared micromobility operator in Europe.

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