Rental company Whizascoot shuts down... and leaves scooters lying around
App tells users ‘no plans’ to restart service, but company says decision ‘still under consideration’
E-scooter sharing company Whizascoot has ceased operations while leaving some of its vehicles parked in areas around the country.
Users of the app were recently greeted by a message reading that the service had been suspended with “no plans” to restart it.
The app remains available on both the Apple and Google app stores, but no e-scooters are visible on the in-app map.
The announcement follows months of the service being unavailable, according to customers Times of Malta spoke to, who reported being told by the company’s support line back in March that its fleet was out of service for maintenance.
As of this week, the company’s website and social media accounts were no longer available.
Some of the company’s trademark lizard-branded, orange-and-blue electronic scooters, meanwhile, have been left parked outside. Times of Malta spotted vehicles parked in Rabat and Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq in recent days.
A spokesperson for Whizascoot’s parent company, CtMove Limited, said the closure was a “business decision which is still under consideration”, adding that “all the vehicles that are still on the road are all licensed”.
Scooters were spotted parked in areas of Rabat and Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq earlier this week. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier
The company was named after the Maltese word for lizard, “wiżgħa”. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier
Service not without its critics
Whizascoot – which took its name from the Maltese word for lizard, 'wiżgħa', opened in Malta in 2019. The company employed a fleet of 150 vehicles at the time of its launch, charging users 21c per minute of use.
First-time users would register with the Whizascoot app before verifying their driving licence with the company so that they could then be allowed to hire a scooter. Users would then locate a scooter through the app, book a vehicle and begin riding, leaving scooters within designated drop-off areas once a journey was completed.
Users could temporarily pause rides for a reduced cost per minute, leaving scooters in designated areas before continuing the ride.
While popular, the service was not without its critics.
Apple and Google app store reviews highlight “missing helmets” and scooters in a “bad” and “declining” condition. Some reported defective brakes, mirrors and wheels. Past users of the service Times of Malta spoke to reported similar issues.
Responding to the complaints, the spokesperson said: “The business decision taken was not related at all to any operational matters.”
The closure signals the end of vehicle-sharing services in Malta following the closure of car-sharing service GoTo in 2022, now leaving consumers with only rental vehicle options.