French carmaker Renault has signed a partnership with Nino Robotics, a designer of seated personal transporters, aimed at changing the perception of transport solutions adapted to people with disabilities or of reduced mobility.
As part of this investment Renault will provide financial support to Nino Robotics via Mobilize Invest, an investment company dedicated to projects with a strong social impact in the field of mobility, setting up a sponsorship scheme through working sessions with its battery experts and engineers specialising in motorisation and connectivity.
The objective of this support is to contribute to the development of Nino Robotics and in particular of NINO4, its future electric transporter, to increase production to an industrial scale.
With NINO4, Pierre Bardina, founder of Nino Robotics, said he intends to offer a solution “far removed from those usually offered to people with reduced mobility”.
This seated personal transporter will also be connected to provide users with data on battery charge levels, speed and mileage. Furthermore, a ‘Follow Me’ function will allow a third party to guide NINO4 and its user by auto-follow.
To date, Nino Robotics has developed and markets two products: Nino, a self-balanced personal carrier, and One, a scooter designed for wheelchairs.
Pierrick Cornet, powertrain project alliance global director, Renault-Nissan Alliance, and a mentor of Nino Robotics, said: “Electric, connected and accessible to as many people as possible, Nino Robotics’ vision of mobility is in line with Groupe Renault’s strategy and social commitment.
“As a mentor, my mission is to connect and enlighten the potential links between Nino Robotics and the automotive world, and to facilitate the sharing of experiences.
“We deeply appreciate this opportunity to promote exchanges between our teams and Nino Robotics: this meets to the ambition of many of our employees, including myself, to get involved in actions with a societal objective.”
