XYTE mobility is a German startup on a mission to redefine personal urban transportation by blending the agility of a scooter with the protection of a car.
Founded by Dr. Wolfgang Ziebart – a veteran of the automotive industry – and a team of seasoned engineers, the company has developed a new category of compact electric vehicle designed specifically for city travel. Its first model, the XYTE ONE, encapsulates this vision with a three-wheeled design, an open safety cell, and a car-like seatbelt system. The aim is to offer helmet-free riding without compromising on safety.
Interview with Dr. Wolfgang Ziebart (Founder & CEO) and Christoph Walz (CMO) of XYTE mobility.
A brief description of the company and its activities
Ziebart: XYTE mobility develops a new class of electric vehicles tailored to urban environments: agile, clean and safe. Our first product, the XYTE ONE, merges the convenience of a scooter with automotive-level protection. We’re engineering solutions that address real-world urban mobility challenges.
Walz: We’re not just building vehicles – we’re designing a new experience. City traffic is changing fast, and our answer is a compact, intelligent solution that makes daily commuting both safer and more enjoyable.
What are the main areas of activity?
Ziebart: Our focus areas include engineering, industrialization with our partner Leroad in China, city-by-city market rollout and building a decentralized service partner network. We develop the vehicle entirely in-house in Germany, but scale production via partners to stay lean and fast.
Walz: Understanding modern urban commuters’ need was a central part of our journey. Right from the beginning, we engaged with a large community of BMW C1 drivers to gather as many learnings as possible on such a vehicle. This greatly helped us to improve our concept even further from the beginning on. Now, my team works on pushing visibility and digital pre-order on the leanest budget possible. Secondly, staying in contact with our community of early fans and customers is key.
What’s the news about new products/services?
Walz: Since our world premiere at IAA Mobility 2025, the biggest news is: reservations for the 500-unit Launch Edition are underway. Deliveries will begin in May 2026 in selected cities. Customers can expect a fully equipped model at a highly competitive entry price.
Ziebart: We’re currently in the middle of homologation and conducting field tests. Internally, we call this the “last mile of engineering.” Everything is focused on quality and customer satisfaction from day one. So we shortly decided to switch to an newer version of the initially planned motor, with significantly improved power, torque, and efficiency, while being smaller and lighter.
What are the ranges of products/services?
Ziebart: Our current product portfolio centers entirely on the XYTE ONE — a three-wheeled, fully electric scooter with a peak power of 20 kW, a range of over 100 km, and a 7.6 kWh battery pack. The top speed is 114 km/h. But we already plan to extend our product portfolio with a lighter (and cheaper) model offering the same unique safety concept.
Walz: To customers, the ONE makes an one-of-a-kind offering: The riding experience and dynamics of a motorcycle combined with a safety level that allows drivers to ride without a helmet. Secondly, car-like convenience was a second key focus besides safety: weather protection, a reverse gear, cargo space, and a digital cockpit with over-the-air updates are features we identified as core needs of urban commuters.
What is the state of the market?
Walz: Urban transport is in flux. Over 60 % of all city trips involve just one person. Cities are reducing car access, and two-wheelers remain risky and weather-dependent. We’re offering a practical in-between solution: safer than a scooter, leaner than a car.
Ziebart: It’s not about replacing every car or every scooter. It’s about creating a viable new category. Right now, there’s real white space between microcars and two-wheelers. That’s where the XYTE ONE fits in.
What can you tell us about market trends?
Walz: Three macro-trends are converging: city densification, electrification, and a growing demand for safety and comfort. People want agile, clean transport that doesn’t feel like a downgrade. Cities want zero-emission, space-efficient modes. The XYTE ONE is our direct response.
Ziebart: We’re also seeing an improvement in regulatory clarity. In many EU countries, it is possible to operate without a helmet if the vehicle has seatbelts and a protective structure. This represents a significant legal and emotional breakthrough for many users.
In addition, some large consultancies project light urban mobility to be a huge market within the next 5–10 years. Together with our direct customer responses and reservations, this gives us the confidence to be on the right track and at the right time
What are your most innovative products/services?
Ziebart: The XYTE ONE itself is the innovation. A tilting three-wheeler with two front wheels, hydraulic tilt-lock, ABS on all wheels, and a safety frame inspired from race cars. We bring automotive-grade safety into the lightweight category.
Walz: But innovation is also how we go to market. We focus on city clusters with trained local partners instead of traditional dealer networks. Customers aren’t just buying a vehicle, they’re entering an ecosystem with regular OTA updates and certified service partners
What estimations do you have for early 2026?
Ziebart: We are currently in a very challenging phase. In setting up volume production, we are striving for a perfect component fit and easy assembly to avoid costly rework and errors. Fortunately, our experienced team is ready to tackle any challenges that arise and remain motivated despite the inevitable setbacks.
We will begin delivering the Launch Edition in May 2026. By then, our local service partners in cities such as Munich, Paris, Barcelona, Milan, Rome and many more all over Europe will be operational.
Walz: We estimate a low four-digit delivery volume in 2026. But more important: we’ll prove the concept works on the street. If customers are happy, the category will grow – and XYTE mobility will grow with it.
