Local E-scooter business going global

Dynamic Macclesfield-based business, AER Electric (AER), is gearing up for growth with its award-winning AER 557 premium adult electric scooter.

Local MP, David Rutley, recently met the company’s founder, Mr John Irving, at AER’s head office near the town centre where the scooters are assembled to find out more about the company’s plans to meet the surging demand for e-scooters.

Mr Irving explained that the AER 557’s design is a response to the pressing need to deliver cleaner, more sustainable urban transport. The e-scooter was designed in the UK and specialist-engineered in Germany thanks to the £1 million investment raised through the Government’s Enterprise Investment Scheme initiative. The product is the first ‘vehicle grade’ e-scooter primarily intended for commuting, but its patented fold-away design means that it has many different uses within the rapidly growing “micro-mobility” market.

AER has welcomed the government’s plans to fast track e-scooter trials as part of a national initiative to get people back to work using environmentally friendly modes of transport, rather than public transport.

Currently, initial trials are limited to rental e-scooters, but provided they are successful more schemes will be rolled out in the months ahead – pointing to the potential for this new form of transport. This could lead to the UK joining other European countries and US cities that have already embraced battery-powered scooters.

David first became aware of AER’s enterprising work at last year’s North East Cheshire Business Awards, when the company won the award for Science and Innovation. Since then, the business has gone on to win the Start-Up Award at the prestigious Eurobike show, giving global recognition to this innovative British designed, market leading e-scooter. 

Mr Irving, who established AER in 2017, explained that thanks to the increased recognition the product has received over the last year, the company now has a clear focus on increasing exports into international markets and will launch in Miami in 2021. The company also hopes to start taking on apprentices, working with Macclesfield College.

Speaking after his visit, David said, “AER Electric is a true Macclesfield and British innovation success story and a great example of the creative talent that we are fortunate to have in this part of Cheshire. I was very impressed to hear how the company has made such positive strides with its innovative design and learn about its potential to help reduce carbon emissions and make our towns cleaner and safer. I wish John and his team continued success with their AER 557 e-scooter and their plans for the year ahead.”