BP Ventures is investing €10 million in the Finnish startup MaaS Global, a provider of digital mobility software. The company is best known for its Whim app that bundles entire cities’ transport services into a single platform.
Mitsubishi Corporation has also been named as an investor.
Roy Williamson, vice president Advanced Mobility at BP, says: “Whim is super convenient. It offers users a single digital key that unlocks the full spectrum of city transport. It takes the hassle out of planning travel, taking on board users’ preferences and connecting and booking their ideal transport choices.”
Sampo Hietanen, CEO and founder, MaaS Global adds: “The world of transportation is going through disruption that is technology-enabled but, fundamentally, demand-driven. To us, having BP on board as a strategic investor is a real asset. BP’s global reach, its long experience in serving customers and technical expertise will be invaluable as we continue to build the ecosystem required to offer a seamless mobility platform to our users.”
Kyoya Kondo, General Manager for investment, business creation and digital strategy in the Automotive and Mobility Group, Mitsubishi Corporation, comments: “We are excited to be on this journey with MaaS Global to change the world of transport towards a digital and sustainable future. The MaaS market is expected to grow rapidly as both consumers and cities are searching for smart solutions to ease everyday life and reduce pollution.”
The Helsinki-based startup plans to expand Whim’s reach to a number of new markets including European cities, Japan, Singapore and North America in 2020.
