Lime Rolls Out Subscription Service

This week, Lime rolled out a weekly subscription service for its scooter and e-bike power riders in the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand.

How it works: The LimePass service waives unlock charges for seven consecutive days. If you’re a frequent rider, Lime says the pass will pay for itself in a few days since unlocks typically cost $1 apiece. LimePass is targeted to commuters, who make up over 50% of the company’s riders.

Lime’s not alone

Bigger mobility players are experimenting with similar business models:

• You can subscribe to Volvo SUVs.
• Cadillac is resurrecting its car subscription service next year in California.

Canoo, a boutique L.A. auto startup, plans to offer subscription-only EVs in 2021. “Prime, Apple Services, Netflix, and Spotify…we wanted to bring these subscription-based models, with low commitment, to the automotive sector,” Chief Product Officer of Tech James Cox told me earlier this fall.

Bottom line: Scooter/bike/car subscriptions → greater fleet utilization → more revenue. Or so these companies hope.