The partnership will enable 71 million LINE users to sign up and use Mobike service directly from the messaging platform

World’s leading dockless bike-share giant Mobike’s Japanese subsidiary has received an undisclosed amount in Series A funding from popular mobile messaging platform LINE in exchange for a 20 per cent equity.

Over the next several months, the two firms will work together to integrate Mobike functionality to the LINE app as the exclusive bike-sharing service. As per a press note, this partnership will enable 71 million LINE users to sign up and use Mobike service directly from the messaging platform.

LINE users in cities where Mobike is present will be able to unlock a Mobike by scanning the QR code on the bike with their LINE app, and pay using their LINE Pay account or other payment methods.

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The partnership furthers Mobike’s global strategy to integrate in local markets and build local operations.

Mobike launched in the Japanese city of Sapporo in June, with the support of the municipal government and will officially launch its service in Fukuoka this week. The company plans to launch in more cities around Japan throughout 2018 in co-operation with local governments and city councils.

Mobike Japan is led by General Manager Noboru Kinoshita, an industry veteran who was previously responsible for project initiation, market research, siting and approvals and operations at Japan’s oldest and largest docked bike-share DocomoBIKE.

Hu Weiwei, Founder and President of Mobike, said: “LINE is the clear leader in Japan’s social media space, with a strong culture of innovation and creativity, and therefore, is the perfect partner to support our ambitious growth plans in Japan. Mobike brings the best quality smart bikes specifically designed for dockless bike sharing, and an Internet of Things (IoT)-based operation platform to serve local users and communities in Japan. Working together with LINE, we will be able to provide tens of millions of LINE users with a seamless and localised experience for finding, unlocking and paying for bikes with the LINE app,” Weiwei added.

Also Read: LINE Indonesia acquires local student-oriented carpooling platform TemanJalan

Takeshi Idezawa, President and CEO of LINE Corporation, said: “Through this capital investment and strategic business partnership with Mobike, we can support the expansion of Mobike’s service in Japan by leveraging our
network of local governments and private companies that make use of our various activities and services.”

Early this year, Mobike’s Chinese parent raised over US$600 million in a Series E round led by Tencent, with participation from Sequoia, TPG, Hillhouse Capital, Farallon Capital, BOCOM International, and ICBC International.

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