Our mission

Delivering Fun and Innovative Mobility for All

Innovation for Inclusive Mobility

At WHILL, we are dedicated to fulfilling our mission of delivering fun and innovative mobility for all. We are changing the way people think about personal transportation and breaking down barriers to inclusive mobility. With a focus on smart design and innovative technology, our products and services are designed for people who have difficulty walking, as well as those who want to move freely on sidewalks and indoors.

TechShop in Menlo Park, California

The Origin of WHILL

Founded in 2012 by three innovators based in San Francisco and Tokyo: Satoshi Sugie, with a background in Nissan automotive design; Junpei Naito, from Sony's R&D department; and Muneaki Fukuoka, specializing in medical equipment R&D at Olympus. They were inspired to found WHILL after speaking with a particular wheelchair user.

Garage in San Francisco, California

I even gave up going to the grocery store just two blocks away.

One individual's story sparked our journey. Feeling isolated and limited by societal perceptions, he shared, "I even gave up going to the grocery store just two blocks away". Traditional wheelchairs prioritized functionality over individuality. This drove WHILL designers and engineers to create a mobility device that empowers individuals to move through the world with confidence and enthusiasm.

Japanese Technology for Global Aging Population

At WHILL, we provide mobility solutions to meet the needs of aging populations worldwide. Our expertise comes from our success in addressing the challenges of Japan, a nation leading the world in aging demographics. By leveraging Japanese technology, we provide reliable mobility solutions to meet the evolving needs of the aging world.

Personal Transportation Solutions for Consumers and Businesses Worldwide

In addition to designing and selling mobility products, WHILL provides Mobility-as-a-Service, offering autonomous and manual transportation services that make public spaces such as airports, hospitals, and vacation destinations more accessible. WHILL provides products and services in more than 20 countries and regions worldwide.

Learn More About Our Services

Company Profile

Company Name

WHILL, Inc.

Establishment

May 2012

Number of Employees

350 employees (consolidated basis as of September 2024)

Business

1. Design and sales of personal mobility products

2. Provider of transportation services using personal mobility products (MaaS)

Management

Board of Directors

Satoshi Sugie, Representative Board Director

Kenji Goho, Board Director

David Milstein, Outside Director

Takeshi Niinami, Outside Director

Chisato Nakamura, Full-Time Auditor

Ken Hirano, External Auditor

Masahiro Yamasawa, External Auditor

Executive Members

Satoshi Sugie, CEO

Junpei Naito, CDO

Kenji Goho, CFO

Keito Fukuda, CTO

Tomohiro Ikeda, SVP of WHILL Japan

Satoshi Sugie, North America CEO

Shawn Lo, President at WHILL Europe B.V.

Tian Ye, President at WHILL China Co.,Ltd.

History

2012 Founded

2013 Incorporated in the U.S.A

2014 WHILL Model A launch

2017 WHILL Model C launch

2018 Established WHILL Europe (Amsterdam)

2018 Merger with Scootaround, Inc.

2019 Announced MaaS concept and autonomous driving system

2019 Established WHILL China (Suzhou)

2020 Implemented autonomous mobility service for commercial use

2020 WHILL Model C2 launch

2021 WHILL Model F launch

2022 WHILL Model S launch

2023 Announced WHILL Rental App

2024 WHILL Model R launch

Awards

At WHILL, we value delivering innovative mobility solutions for all. As a testament to our dedication to quality and innovation, we are proud to have won a variety of awards related to product design and innovation.

2024

Model R | iF Design Award (Product Design)

2023

Autonomous Model | Best of CES Innovation Award (Product Design)

2022

Model F | iF Design Award (Product Design)

Model F | Best of CES Innovation Award (Product Design)

Model C2 | Mobility Magazine Product Award (Power Wheelchairs for Travel)

2018

Model C | iF Design Award (Product Design)

Model Ci | Time Best Invention (Top 50 Inventions Around the World)

Model Ci | Red Dot Award Best of the Best (Healthcare Industry)