Voi e-scooters confirms it has no active operations in Russia

West Midlands mayor Andy Street sought reassurances from Voi Technology - the company behind the e-scooter trials - about their activity with Russia.

Mr Street said that the county’s e-scooter trials, which are currently taking place in Birmingham and are due to end this month, won’t be halted after Voi confirmed that they have no active operations in Russia.

It comes after the Swedish newspaper Di claimed that one of the company’s shareholders has links with an oligarch who has been sanctioned by the EU.

The report claims that Voi shareholder and Russian businessman Alexander Eliseev has alleged connections to Alexei Mordashov, who has been sanctioned following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

A spokesman for the West Midlands mayor said that Voi have “confirmed to us that none of their investors were under sanctions at the point of their investment in Voi or currently are so, but that they will be ‘monitoring this situation closely.”

Voi says it has ceased all business activities in Russia and its ally Belarus.

Mr Street’s comments come after the West of England mayor Dan Norris threatened to end the trials in the region over the claims.

As reported by the BBC, Mr Norris told the boss of Voi its actions would “strongly affect my thinking regarding future use” of e-scooters.

What did West Midlands mayor Andy Street say?

In a statement issued to BirminghamWorld, a spokesperson for Mr Street, said: “Voi have provided us with a statement confirming their condemnation of the Russian actions in Ukraine, and that they are actively donating to the relief effort.

“They have told us they have no active operations in Russia, are disposing of any Russian assets, and have ensured their supply chain no longer goes through Russia.

“On top of this they have confirmed to us that none of their investors were under sanctions at the point of their investment in Voi or currently are so, and that any investor, advisor, or partner who does not join them in vocally opposing the Russian invasion of Ukraine will no longer be associated with the company.

“We acknowledge the steps Voi have set out, and will continue to monitor this situation closely and keep in contact with the company to ensure they enact on what has been set out to us.

“In the meantime we will continue to focus on ensuring the safe and effective operation of the e-scooter trial, which has been successfully serving tens of thousands of travellers over the last 18 months.”

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