Grin reaches Argentina, partners with local businesses •

Contxto – Hand in hand with Rappi, the e-scooter company Grin has finally reached the streets of Palermo in Buenos Aires.

In Summary

News broke earlier today that Grin, the Mexican mobility startup, will launch operations in Argentina’s capital. According to iProUP, the company will initially deploy its units across 500 new stations throughout the city.

The overall cost of using the service is AR$15 (around US$33 cents) for unlocking the scooter, and then an additional AR$8 (around US$18 cents) for each minute of usage. Apart from launching their own app, customers can also request scooters through Rappi. Grin partnered with the Colombian delivery app a few months ago for improved access and convenience.

In-Depth

Grin chose Palermo, a highly-transited neighborhood in Buenos Aires, to install their first stations. Allegedly, there will be at least two stations per block with around four to five units at each one.

To make the best out of the launching, Grin is also partnering with local businesses. These stores will benefit from a couple of different standpoints. These include a fee payment for the use of their space, visibility through the app’s map, as well as increased pedestrian traffic near their stores.

On top of that, these businesses will be able to join Grin in executing marketing activations and promotional campaigns, plus showcasing any special offers that may be going on.

As far as we know, contrary to what Grin has been doing in other countries, users won’t be able to leave the vehicles at random locations. Instead, they will have to pick them up and return them to these stations. We have contacted Grin to clarify this but still waiting on a response.

Among the chosen locations are supermarkets, restaurants, coffee shops, shopping malls, and a variety of other businesses. Obviously, these companies have no responsibility for the scooters themselves.

Interestingly enough, Movo the Spanish scooter company owned by Cabify, and Voltion, a new Argentinian startup, will also launch operations in Argentina in the following months. Both of these companies expect to release their units between May and July.