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Kiwis getting ‘wheelie’ behind scooters, reveal PriceSpy
According to new data insights from PriceSpy, the fully impartial price and product comparison site, demand for scooters in New Zealand is currently skyrocketing, as Kiwis young and old seek out alternative transport methods.
Based on historical clicks, PriceSpy has witnessed a massive 84 per cent year-on-year increase (2017 to 2018) for the shopping category of scooters, which also feature the on-trend electric and self-balancing types. Similarly, the number of e-scooter products listed on the site has also grown 35 per cent (January 2018 compared to January 2019).
Liisa Matinvesi-Bassett, New Zealand country manager for PriceSpy, says: “Following the launch of Lime in New Zealand last year, we have seen phenomenal growth in the overall popularity of scooters.
“For example in November, one month after the arrival of Lime, the shopping category of scooters received 160 per cent more clicks than the month previous.”
Interestingly, even after the busy Christmas shopping months of November and December, based on PriceSpy’s individual product popularity for the top five e-scooters and self-balancing scooters, consumer interest has continued to grow throughout the months of January and February.
| Top five e-scooters, as listed on PriceSpy | Product popularity ranking*** based on 108,000 indexed PriceSpy product listings (as at 3 February 2019) | Product popularity ranking*** based on 108,000 indexed PriceSpy product listings (early December 2018) | Popularity ranking placement increase / decrease |
| Xiaomi MiJia M365 E-scooter 42V | 472 | 13,265 (as at 7 December 2018) | Up 12,793 places |
| Ninebot by Segway ES2 E-scooter | 1628 | 3992 (as at 1 December 2018) | Up 2364 places |
| Razor PowerCore E90 E-scooter | 1967 | 18,662 (as at 2 December 2018) | Up 16,695 places |
| Razor EPrime E-scooter 36V | 3367 | 12,901 (as at 12 January 2019) | Up 9534 places |
| Razor PowerCore E100 E-scooter | 11,542 | 175 (as at 1 December 2019) | Down 4333 places |
| Average | Up 6004 places |
***The lower the ranking, the more popular the product.
| Top five self-balancing scooters, as listed on PriceSpy | Product popularity ranking*** based on 108,000 indexed PriceSpy product listings (as at 3 February 2019) | Product popularity ranking*** based on 108,000 indexed PriceSpy product listings (early December 2018) | Popularity ranking difference |
| Ninebot by Segway Mini Lite | 4605 | 7026 | Up 2421 places |
| Razor Hovertrax 2.0 | 5378 | 6683 | Up 1305 places |
| Razor Hovertrax 1.5 | 6711 | 2777 | Down -3934 places |
| Segway miniPLUS | 7427 | 21,731 | Up 14,304 places |
| Razor X Cruiser | 10,912 | 88,479 | Up 77,567 |
| Average | Up 29,312 places |
***The lower the ranking, the more popular the product.
Liisa continues: “The trend of scootering certainly appears to be one that will be sticking around for the foreseeable future, so if you are considering making a purchase, we strongly recommend consumers should take the necessary safety precautions and kit themselves out with a helmet.
“We also strongly recommend consumers carry out important product and price research first, to ensure they are choosing one that’s right for them. For example, based on current price information, there’s a price difference of $301 for the Razor Hovertrax 2.0.
“To help shoppers make informed purchasing decisions, we encourage them to download the PriceSpy app. This will help make sure they are armed and ready, so when a scooter ‘appears’ to be on sale, they can make sure it actually is!”
Download the PriceSpy app here.
Fun facts:
Based on the lowest prices listed on PriceSpy, the table below provides approx. equivalent Lime riding hours compared to the cost of owning an e-scooter outright.
| Top five e-scooters, as listed on PriceSpy | Lowest price list on PriceSpy (as at 4 February 2019) | Approx. equivalent Lime riding hours (based at $19 per hour****) |
| Xiaomi MiJia M365 E-scooter 42V | $678.99 | 36 |
| Ninebot by Segway ES2 E-scooter | $1099 | 58 |
| Razor PowerCore E90 E-scooter | $199.50 | 11 |
| Razor EPrime E-scooter 36V | $649.99 | 34.21 |
| Go Skitz 0.8 E-scooter 12V | $399.99 | 21 |
****Calculation = Rental cost at $4, plus 30c per minute thereafter.
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