Lime Returns to Mexico City With E-Scooter Pilot

Lime returned to Mexico City after several years of absence through a 60-day SEMOVI-supervised e-scooter pilot. The program will deploy up to 1,000 scooters and test whether shared micromobility can support last-mile transport under clearer rules, especially as the city prepares for higher mobility demand ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Mexico City’s micromobility market is entering a new regulatory test as Lime returns to the capital with electric scooters after several years of absence, this time under a pilot program supervised by the Ministry of Mobility (SEMOVI). The company’s comeback follows its re-entry into Mexico through Queretaro in 2025 and comes as Mexico City moves to tighten rules for scooters, electric bicycles, and other personal mobility vehicles.

Lime will participate in a 60-day pilot program in Mexico City, with plans to deploy up to 1,000 electric scooters, according to information reported by local media and attributed to the company. The rollout began on June 10, with an initial fleet of several hundred units and additional vehicles expected to be added progressively. The company also plans safety activations and parking-management measures during the pilot period, including campaigns to promote responsible riding and reduce obstruction of sidewalks and public spaces.

The return places Lime back in a market where shared scooters previously faced regulatory uncertainty. In 2019, SEMOVI presented operating rules for dockless electric scooters and bicycles under the Sustainable Individual Transportation Systems (SiTIS) framework, which defined technical requirements, operating guidelines, and temporary permit mechanisms for micromobility companies. That framework remains a key reference for the city’s efforts to organize shared mobility services.

Lime’s return to Mexico City differs from its first phase in the city, when operators faced disputes over permits, operating areas, and regulatory certainty. In 2019, SEMOVI’s rules set fleet limits and operating areas for dockless mobility companies, including zones such as Polanco, Roma-Condesa, Benito Juarez, and other high-demand areas. The ministry said at the time that the rules were designed to use operational data to determine how many bicycles and scooters each company could place in the city.

The new pilot comes as Mexico City is strengthening its micromobility regulations. In August 2025, the Mexico City Congress approved reforms to the local Mobility Law to incorporate electric bicycles, scooters, and electric motorcycles into a personal motorized transport category. Lawmakers said the reform sought to improve road safety, provide legal certainty, and address issues such as sidewalk circulation, speeding, lack of helmet use, and misuse of vehicles.

The regulatory push has continued throughout 2026. Mexico City authorities have moved to introduce plates, licenses, and mobility identifiers for certain electric vehicles depending on weight, power, and maximum speed. The rules are intended to distinguish low-speed micromobility vehicles from heavier electric motorcycles and other vehicles that require stricter registration and safety obligations.

Lime’s return also comes as Mexico City prepares for higher mobility demand linked to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Expansión reported that SEMOVI’s pilot includes up to 1,500 scooters from Lime and Whoosh, with the goal of strengthening last-mile mobility and improving transport options in high-demand areas.

In Nuevo Leon, the state government reported the launch of Lime operations in Guadalupe with 500 scooters and 50 bicycles, framing the project as part of a green mobility strategy and the region’s preparations for the 2026 World Cup.⁠