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🇫🇷 France /Economy & Trade

Electric Scooter Firm Lime Eyes $2 Billion IPO

From Le Figaro · (12h ago) French Mixed tone

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Electric scooter and bike-sharing company Lime is preparing for an Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the Nasdaq under the ticker 'LIME'.
  • The company aims for a valuation of approximately $2 billion, seeking to overcome a challenging period marked by the pandemic and regulatory changes.
  • Despite revenue growth, Lime reported a significant increase in net losses in 2025, though it highlights positive cash flow and improving gross margins.

Lime, the prominent electric scooter and bike-sharing company, is gearing up for a significant financial milestone: an Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the Nasdaq stock exchange. Under the ticker symbol 'LIME,' the San Francisco-based startup aims to achieve a valuation of around $2 billion. This move signals a strategic pivot as the company seeks to leave behind a difficult period characterized by the lingering effects of the pandemic and evolving regulatory landscapes that have challenged the micromobility sector.

Lime is preparing its arrival on the stock market.

— Article narratorAnnouncing the company's intention to go public.

Operating in approximately 230 cities across 29 countries, Lime has become a familiar sight in major urban centers worldwide. Founded in 2017, the company's journey has been marked by rapid expansion but also by the inherent volatility of the micromobility market. The planned IPO comes at a time when competitors, like Bird, have faced significant financial distress, even filing for bankruptcy after once being valued at over $2 billion. This context underscores the high stakes involved for Lime as it seeks to reassure investors.

The company wants to turn the page on difficult years marked by the pandemic and regulatory changes.

— Article narratorExplaining the motivation behind the IPO.

Lime's path to this point has not been without its financial hurdles. The company secured $170 million in funding in 2020, led by Uber, at a significantly reduced valuation compared to its pre-pandemic peak. While Uber remains a key stakeholder, holding over 10% of Lime's capital, the company has continued to grapple with profitability. Financial filings reveal a 29% increase in revenue for 2025, reaching $886 million, yet net losses surged by 75% to $59.3 million in the same period.

Lime aims for a valuation of approximately $2 billion.

— Article narratorStating the target valuation for the IPO.

Despite the reported losses, Lime is presenting a case to investors that emphasizes positive underlying trends. The company asserts it has generated positive free cash flow for three consecutive years, amounting to $103.8 million in 2025. Furthermore, gross margins have shown improvement. However, Lime's own financial disclosures acknowledge the ongoing challenge of achieving consistent profitability and caution that future profitability is not guaranteed. This dual narrative of growth and persistent losses will be central to how the market perceives Lime's IPO prospects.

Lime had also gone through a delicate period during the pandemic.

— Article narratorDescribing the company's past financial struggles.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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