Nottingham's e-scooter rental network has suddenly ceased its services amid reports of its US parent company's withdrawal from the market.

Superpedestrian, which initiated operations in the city in 2020, enabled residents to locate and hire electric scooters through an app, boasting hundreds of units available.

Part of a government-endorsed pilot across 24 UK regions, the service was recently extended until May 2026, but the sudden removal of the e-scooters has raised concerns.

The Nottingham City Council confirmed the closure of Superpedestrian's UK operations, stating that the company has withdrawn its e-scooters from the city's streets.

Until December 22nd, the vehicles were operational, but abruptly disappeared thereafter, leaving the app non-functional for users. Attempts to recharge virtual wallets failed, and the fleet of approximately 1,000 scooters vanished from the map.

Amidst reports of the parent company winding up its operations in the US and considering selling its European division, Superpedestrian has yet to respond to the BBC's request for comment made on December 23rd.

Addressing the situation, a spokesperson from Nottingham City Council conveyed that Superpedestrian's exit has prompted plans for a refund process for customers with remaining credits. Additionally, the council intends to initiate a procurement process to secure a new e-scooter provider in the upcoming year. Photo by Homoatrox, Wikimedia commons.