WHILL sees its foldable personal electric mobility vehicle win the prestigious iF Design Award 2022
Advanced powerchair manufacturer WHILL, whose products are supplied by TGA Mobility in the UK, has announced that its foldable Model F mobility vehicle has won the 2022 iF Design Award.
A record number of 10,776 products and projects were registered for the iF Design Award 2022, with 1,973 of these submissions being selected as winners. For three days, all submissions were evaluated, discussed and scored in Berlin by 75 renowned international design experts.
Established in 1953, the iF Design Awards are recognized internationally as one of the most prestigious awards within the field of design.
WHILL Model F is a foldable short-distance mobility vehicle that is designed to be used by anyone, including active older people who have difficulty walking. It is lightweight, which makes it easy to load into cars and convenient when traveling by air. Model F can also be folded effortlessly and quickly, providing a seamless travel experience for those who want to get out and explore.
When folded, the product can be stored upright or flat depending on its environment. Additionally, the WHILL smartphone app allows you to drive and lock the Model F remotely, as well as check device information such as total mileage and battery level.
Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, WHILL offers short-distance mobility products and services in over 20 countries and regions globally. Along with designing and selling short-distance mobility vehicles, WHILL provides Mobility-as-a-Service solutions, offering autonomous and manual transportation services that make public spaces more accessible.
On May 17, 2022, WHILL officially closed new funding led by a strategic investor Woven Capital, the growth-stage corporate venture capital fund of Woven Place, a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation.
The firm plans to use the investment to scale production globally and place more emphasis and resources on the service side of its business. The funding follows successful airport trials of WHILL’s fully autonomous mobility service in several American cities as well as a permanent installation in Tokyo International Airport in Japan.
