Urbanloop, a low-carbon public transport startup, sets up operations in Lyon
Urbanloop is a public transport company offering low-environmental-impact mobility solutions. Based in Nancy, the company has established operations in Lyon with the support of ONLYLYON Invest and the backing of the Lyon Metropolis.
Urbanloop’s story began in 2017, when four engineering schools in Nancy (École nationale supérieure des mines de Nancy, Télécom Nancy, École nationale supérieure de géologie, and École nationale supérieure d’électricité et de mécanique de Nancy), together with the University of Lorraine, launched an initiative to develop sustainable mobility solutions. Two years later, in 2019, Jean-Philippe Mangeot founded Urbanloop to carry the project forward and begin commercializing its solution: a unique, low-carbon, autonomous, rail-based and automated public transport system.
In early 2024, Urbanloop opened a new branch in Lyon.
Urbanloop, an innovative company committed to sustainable mobility
Urbanloop is developing a mobility solution that addresses today’s challenges in the fight against climate change. The goal is to compete with cars in terms of travel time and thereby encourage a shift in transport modes. In practical terms, the system operates autonomous, battery-free electric capsules. The capsules are powered by a connected rail network. Tested at the company’s site in Nancy since 2019, they can accommodate two adult passengers. A prototype six-passenger capsule is currently under development.
The company designs its system around three key requirements: contributing to the decarbonization of territories and user mobility, reducing operating costs, and minimizing environmental impact. The capsules are lightweight, which lowers the infrastructure costs required for installation. In May 2021, an Urbanloop capsule set a world record for the lowest electricity consumption for an autonomous rail vehicle: just 1 kWh per kilometer per capsule. The capsules are compact, require a small land footprint, and can be easily integrated into peri-urban and urban areas, as well as industrial or tourist environments.
Urbanloop has been awarded the French Tech 2030 label and has already secured contracts. It was selected by the Nancy Metropolitan Area to serve the future judicial district scheduled for 2026, with a 7-km route and 40 capsules ordered. The company was also chosen by the French Ministry of Transport to install a demonstrator at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, which is already open to the public.
ONLYLYON Invest and the Lyon Metropolis support low-carbon mobility projects
In response to challenges such as road congestion, pollution, and noise, the Lyon Metropolis and ONLYLYON Invest support the development of low-carbon mobility solutions.
ONLYLYON Invest assisted Urbanloop in its search for premises, the recruitment of new talent, and its communications. The company plans to hire 10 additional employees by the end of 2024, with the objective of tripling its workforce within three years.
The Lyon region, a hub for the mobility sector
With a dynamic and sustainability-oriented mobility ecosystem, Lyon is a natural choice for Urbanloop, as highlighted by CEO Noémie Bercoff, who describes Lyon as “the laboratory of transport.”
The Lyon area offers numerous opportunities for development and sustainable mobility, which is why Urbanloop decided to establish its new branch in the region.
With its low-voltage solution, Urbanloop is fully aligned with the Lyon Metropolis’ mobility strategy and is well suited for deployment in the region’s many industrial zones.