Segway just smashed the accelerator pedal on youth motorsports, teaming up with indoor karting giant K1 Speed in a new partnership that blends electric micromobility with high-octane (high-electron?) thrills and fun.
The collaboration will see Segway become the official sponsor of K1’s Junior and Teen Challenge GP leagues, while also putting Segway’s high-performance scooters and go-karts directly in front of the next generation of electric racing fans.
Segway will serve as the official sponsor of K1 Speed’s Junior and Teen Challenge GP leagues, a racing series that pits the best young go-kart racers against each other at K1 tracks across the country. Winners will even take home some fun prizes like the Segway GoKart Pro 2.
“Segway’s partnership with K1 Speed perfectly reflects our passion for performance, innovation, and inspiring the next generation of riders,” said Alex Connelly, head of emerging business development at Segway. “By bringing our products directly to K1 fans and powering the Junior and Teen Challenge GP leagues, we’re creating opportunities for more people to experience even more everyday thrills!”
K1 Speed operates over 100 locations across 30 states and 10 countries, all using fully electric go-karts, making this partnership a perfect alignment in both spirit and tech. “Segway’s incredible reputation as a front-runner in electric mobility aligns perfectly with our use of fully electric go-karts,” said K1 co-founder Susan Danglard.
The partnership also brings more access to Segway’s other micromobility products, such as their range of electric scooters that cover everything from commuting to high-performance riding. Segway’s most exciting electric vehicles, including the Max G3 e-scooter, F3 commuter scooter, GT3 performance scooter, and the GoKart Pro 2, are now available for purchase directly from K1’s website. That last one might be the most fun of all: the GoKart Pro 2 is a 3-in-1 electric vehicle that hits speeds of up to 27 mph (43 km/h), transforms into a self-balancing scooter, and even doubles as a racing simulator controller for PC gaming.
Oh, and yes… it’s designed for both kids and adults. So parents, don’t pretend you’re buying one just for the kids.
Electrek’s Take
We’ve seen branding deals before that are just that… all about branding. But this feels like much more than just a cross-promo play. It’s a real look at how electric mobility brands can build cultural relevance with young riders early – and maybe even help grow the next generation of e-racing pros while they’re at it.
By getting kids and teens into EVs, without the focus being on the EV itself, it helps cement the idea that these aren’t some new alternatives… they’re just the best way to build transportation devices, whether it’s for commuting, adventuring, or just plain fun racing!
K1’s electric karts are a bit faster than Segway’s, but they’re also built to be abused all day, every day. That Segway kart looks pretty fun for a personal option!
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