E-scooter firm Tier has acquired Europe’s top bikeshare player Nextbike, cementing its plans to become a leading global micro-mobility provider.

The acquisition of Nextbike expands Tier’s existing portfolio of shared, light electric vehicles with rental bikes and e-bikes

Nextbike has been operating bike rental systems since 2004, and the acquisition will expand Tier’s existing portfolio of shared, light electric vehicles with rental bikes and e-bikes.

The combined force of the two companies will create Europe’s largest and most diverse micro-mobility provider with more than 250,000 vehicles in over 400 cities – said to be the industry’s first truly multi-modal platform across bikes, e-bikes, cargo bikes, e-scooters and e-mopeds. This will make it much easier for users to choose between different means of transport for each route without using their own car.

The tie-up also unites the benefits of Nextbike’s longstanding city relationships with Tier’s vehicle and tech innovation and financial power, which was further bolstered by its recent Series D financing round of $200m (€174m / £149m).

Lawrence Leuschner, CEO and co-founder of Tier Mobility, said: “The acquisition of Nextbike – with its unrivalled experience and relationships across hundreds of cities – is a unique opportunity to take bikeshare to the next level, getting more people out of cars and offering the most sustainable mobility solution.”

Leonhard von Harrach, CEO of Nextbike, added: “We decided to partner with Tier because there is a significant common ground in the corporate culture. Above all, however, we are united in our mission to make cities more liveable with our mobility services and to do something about traffic congestion, pollution and noise.”