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
300 employees (consolidated basis) (as of March 2023)
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
Shinji Oshige, 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
Kerry Renaud, 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
Office Locations
Japan Headquarters
Harbor Premium Building 2F, 2-1-11, Higashi-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, 140-0002, Japan
Kyoto, Japan Office
Kyoto Research Park Bldg. #6 Room 418, 93 Chudoji Awata-cho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto, 600-8815, Japan
United States Office
Canada Office