- Beam Mobility investigated for manipulating e-scooter monitoring software
- Whistleblower reveals internal scheme exceeding vehicle limits
- Company pledges review and process overhaul amid industry backlash
Scooter Shenanigans
Singapore-based e-scooter company Beam Mobility faces investigations in Australia and New Zealand for allegedly manipulating monitoring software.
Local authorities in Brisbane, Auckland, and Canberra are examining claims that Beam exceeded permitted vehicle limits by up to 30% in certain areas.
The “Running Hot Project”
An anonymous whistleblower exposed internal communications revealing a scheme dubbed the “Running Hot Project.”
This operation allegedly involved sending false real-time data to Ride Report, a third-party monitoring app.
Beam’s CEO, Alan Jiang, stated that some vehicles were marked “unknown” or “inactive” to account for unusable units, enabling deployment of additional scooters within agreed limits.
Damage Control
Beam has pledged to overhaul its processes, conduct an internal review, and appoint an independent auditor.
The company, which operates in over 50 cities globally, denies intentionally depriving councils of revenue. Competitors have distanced themselves from these practices, emphasizing the importance of trust in the industry.
