Segway has decided to end production, which brought up the insane story of Jimi Heselden driving one over a cliff. When first introduced, the sleek scooter seemed as though it could transform the world of transport.
The Segway is currently owned by China-based Ninebot, which acquired Segway in 2015. They have announced they will halt production of the PT, short for Personal Transporter, on July 15th.
Twenty-one staffers will be laid off at its Bedford, New Hampshire plant. Fast Company first reported the news. The Segway PT made a splash on December 3rd of 2001, when it was unveiled on Good Morning America.
Inventor Dean Kamen said that an urban transportation revolution was coming and cars would be obsolete. Kamen felt it was absurd to use 4,000-pound cars and trucks for short trips.
The company was taken over by British self-made millionaire Jimi Heselden about a decade ago. In 2009, just 10 months after he bought Segway, 62-year-old Heselden died after falling 42ft.
He drove off of a cliff while riding a Segway at his estate in West Yorkshire. While the story is a bit humorous, it’s also tremendously sad. It’s even sadder because he died while trying to be polite.
The 62-year-old had reversed the machine to make way for a dog walker. Heselden was a standup man and a self-made millionaire. He donated over $23million dollars to charity.
The Segway PT was ahead of its time. The price tag was a major problem for the company. It cost $4,950 when it was first released. Batteries were too expensive to make a more affordable version.
For years, the company struggled to reduce the price. Prices actually increased, likely due to inflation and new features. Since 2001, 140,000 PTs have been sold, according to a report.
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