2017
Creation of Urbanloop
Our company
Our story
Launch of Urbanloop
A project born at the university
Urbanloop was born in 2017 at the University of Lorraine. The students were asked the following question: "for a given quantity of matter and energy, what is the optimal solution in terms of mobility? Paradoxically, individual transport appeared to be much more efficient. By proposing individual electric public transport, it was possible to envisage a way to compete with the car directly on its main advantage: speed and travel time. The new system was based on the disappearance of waiting times and a total absence of intermediate stops and connections.
The first capsule
First prototype
From this idea, the project leaders worked to remove the various technological obstacles one by one. The question of how to manage such a fleet of individual vehicles quickly became central.
What was a simple computer simulation could now be physically prototyped. The Grand Est region provided financial support so that Urbanloop could carry out its first field tests. A first test circuit was installed at the Brabois Technopole and the first capsules were built.
2019
Conversion to a company
SAS Urbanloop
A new scope
Since 2019, the project has taken on a new dimension. Urbanloop SAS was created to develop the project in an industrial and commercial way.
We are moving from start-up to industrial company, formalizing and affirming our vocation: to contribute to the decarbonization of territories by offering a fast, reliable transport system, with no waiting and no stops at intermediate stations.
Our system is characterized by its lightness, which makes it easy to fit in, in particular in compliance with the Zero Net Artificialization decree of the French Climate and Resilience Act.
Our robust technological innovation adapts to local conditions.
2021
World record
Setting a record
Lowest energy consumption per kilometre
This world record was achieved in the presence of institutional partners who believe in us and strongly support our project. It was in the presence of the Minister of Transport, Mr. Djebbari and Mr. Rottner, President of the Grand Est Region that Urbanloop achieved this technological feat.
In addition to these personalities, there are all the local elected representatives, like Mathieu Klein, Mayor of Nancy and President of the Greater Nancy Metropolis, who have supported the project from the very start of its development, and who have placed their trust in us to create mobility solutions for their region.
2022
1st generation capsule
Unveiling of the Greater Nancy capsule
On July 1, 2022, the Urbanloop capsule dedicated to the Greater Nancy circuit was unveiled at Place Stanislas.
The public turned out in large numbers to discover this new design, and with good reason: an online campaign allowed residents to vote for their favorite model, choosing the capsule's shape, color, window layout, and more.
This capsule, which has been upgraded for comfort, can carry two seated adults.
2024
First travelers to St Quentin en Yvelines
Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines
First passengers & first certification
On July 27, 2024, on the leisure island of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Urbanloop transported its first passengers autonomously.
The Prefect had previously authorized the circuit to go into service, making Urbanloop an approved form of transport.
2025
New contracts & new capsule
Abu Dhabi and Dunkirk place their trust in us
The year 2025 was marked by the signing of two major contracts with Abu Dhabi and Dunkirk.
On this occasion, and to meet the needs of users, a new capsule was designed. It is larger and more modular, with seating for 4 to 12 people.
OUR PROJECT PARTNERS
KEOLIS
Keolis has been a privileged partner of the project since its creation. We are collaborating with Keolis for the first experiment in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines: Urbanloop as system operator and Keolis as operator. The Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines agglomeration community will be the project manager.
CERTIFY
In order to be able to welcome the public, Urbanloop must be certified and approved by various authorities. These compulsory steps in transport innovation are complex and difficult but necessary. Their feedback is essential for the progress of our industrial developments and the deployment of our mobility solutions. We chose Certifer to accompany us in our first project.
OUR FINANCIAL SUPPORTS
Urbanloop is financially supported by various State innovation support instruments. Within the framework of the Investment and Future Programme (PIA4), ADEME is participating in the financing of the public demonstrator in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines. Our research programme is partly financed by the Ministry of Higher Education and by BPI France (winner of the I-Lab competition). The Grand Est Region also provides financial support in the framework of the R&D grant on artificial intelligence.
OUR TECHNICAL SUPPORTS
Cerema is helping us with urban integration and environmental aspects, while the Directorate-General for Infrastructure, Transport and Mobility (DGITM) is providing us with its expertise on the subject of light trains.
The Transport Innovation Agency guides us within the State and local authorities. The STRMTG is guiding us in our approval process with a view to receiving the public.
The Nancy regional customs and excise office supported us when we were awarded the "Made in France" label.
OUR OUTSTANDING SUPPLIERS
Urbanloop is proud to work with trusted local industrial partners, who accompany us with seriousness and talent in our projects and innovations. Thanks to them we can improve our products on a daily basis. Thanks to these suppliers and subcontractors, Urbanloop can now look forward to the future with confidence.
OUR PARTNERS UNIVERSITIES
Born out of the intellectual wealth of Nancy's engineering schools, Urbanloop continues to anchor its work in this fertile ground of creativity and ingenuity, with partnerships targeted by theme and by school.
Urbanloop also draws on the technical expertise of several laboratories in Lorraine, including the Nancy Automation Research Center (CRAN), the National Center for Arts and Crafts, the Nancy Electrical Energy Research Group (GREEN), and the Lorraine Laboratory for Research in Computer Science and its Applications (LORIA). These laboratories of excellence support us in our research and development work by contributing their expertise. Urbanloop has also benefited from the support of the University of Lorraine's incubator of excellence.
Many student projects are being developed in partnership with Urbanloop to think even further ahead and project ourselves technologically into the future.
OUR FIRST CLIENTS
Urbanloop has already been involved in two transport projects. We would like to thank these communities for committing themselves to us to make the world of mobility move.
By choosing to install Urbanloop on their territories, these territories will be pioneers of a new, green, fast and carbon-free mobility.
Our facilities
Urbanloop is based in Nancy and has a branch in Lyon.
The head office is located at 18 Allée de la Forêt de la Reine, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy.
Our operational activities are carried out in Tomblaine and Lyon:
Located at 5 Avenue Nelson Mandela, our premises comprise 4 offices and a break room. For a total of 150m2, employees can work in comfortable offices. These premises enable our teams to develop their prototypes in complete serenity, improve them and move on to the industrial phase in synergy with their colleagues.
The test track is one of Urbanloop's prides. It allows Urbanloop to be autonomous and efficient in its development. It is one of the key showcases of our project, and we will be delighted to welcome you there for demonstrations and working discussions.
We use this circuit to :
- Development: This circuit is used daily to develop new capsule prototypes and software modules;
- Testing: this circuit is used on a daily basis for our research and development tasks. It enables us to test in real-life conditions all the evolutions we make to our capsules, software and tracks;
- Demonstrate: we use this tour to showcase our products to customers and prospects, and our progress to visitors and Urbanloop partners. It also allows us to showcase our mobility solution and its tremendous capabilities to the public.
This circuit also houses our design and maintenance workshop. It enables us to maintain our capsules on a daily basis, and to train technicians in the complete maintenance of the mechanical system.
Our partner CINI's assembly site in Tomblaine is our factory, where we assemble our capsules and carry out certain tests. It's also a showcase for our customers, demonstrating our industrial progress.
Lastly, our Lyon office enables us to extend our reach throughout France and pave the way for our national expansion. Here, we are currently carrying out insertion studies, designing layout systems, and adapting our system to the specific needs of our customers.
Our organisation
We're a cheerful team of thirty or so men and women of action, helping to change the world.
