Take the thrill of a motorcycle and reimagine it as safer and more stable for the realities of urban life. That’s what Tim Huntzinger has introduced with his XOTO electric scooter. He is a visionary transportation designer whose résumé includes NASA’s Moon rovers, Boeing 787 interiors, and even flying cars. Now, he’s turning his focus to the streets with XOTO Inc., a company poised to transform urban mobility with its three-wheeled self-stabilizing electric scooter.
Coming from an aerospace design background, Huntzinger believes the future lies in smaller and smarter vehicles. , With cities growing denser and transportation needs shifting, he says “Most people don’t need an SUV to get across town, they need something practical, fun, and environmentally friendly”. The XOTO scooter is his answer since he wanted to keep the freedom of motorcycle riding with the safety aspect in mind.
Huntzinger’s inspiration for XOTO stems from his 32 years of riding motorcycles and dealing with challenges. “Motorcycles are exciting, but they demand precision, especially in city environments with tight spaces, obstacles and unpredictable traffic,” he explains. His solution? A vehicle that preserves the joy of leaning into turns while dramatically improving stability and control. Backed by a career designing cutting-edge technologies, Huntzinger’s latest mission is to reshape urban transportation with safety, sustainability, and fun style.
From Tim’s Vision To Reality
Tim Huntzinger is no stranger to pushing boundaries in transportation design. He holds several patents in electric vehicle technologies. With a career spanning top-tier aerospace and automotive companies like NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Boeing, Rivian Automotive, LEGO and KITTYHAWK Aero, he has tons of hands-on experience.
With a BFA in Transportation Design from BYU and an MS in Industrial Design from the ArtCenter College of Design, Huntzinger’s work has included everything from Mars rovers to advanced electric vehicles. In his role as a transportation design instructor for eights years at ArtCenter College of Design, he deepened his understanding of real-world mobility challenges as well as the theoretical.
XOTO was born from his graduate thesis and decades of experience riding a motorcycle. Tim believes urban mobility demands vehicles that are safe and accessible. “XOTO started with the idea of leaving your car at home,” he explains “in situations where it just doesn’t make sense to carry around 4 empty seats and 4,000-pound vehicle. Though the best alternative, traditional motorcycles, require advanced skills, which can deter many potential riders. “The idea is to remove the barriers to motorcycle riding for new riders,” he explains “while designing a riding experience that is super fun for very experienced riders. XOTO’s self-stabilizing, front-wheel drive design reduces common accidents by 80% while simplifying control. “Wherever you point the front wheel, that’s where you go,” says Huntzinger, “which experienced riders know isn’t always the case with conventional rear wheel drive motorcycles.”
By prioritizing safety and durability, Tim Huntzinger’s vision aligns with today’s environmental and economic concerns. Beyond safety, XOTO’s electric three-wheeled scooter addresses urban inefficiencies. Huntzinger highlights the overuse of oversized vehicles for short trips: “Most people don’t need a four-passenger car just to pick up groceries or meet with friends.” XOTO challenges this norm with a vehicle that’s fun, practical, and efficient for sustainable urban living.
Closing Gaps In California’s Urban E-Mobility
XOTO is designed to fill a clear gap in urban transportation that no one is talking about. Today’s scooters often struggle with instability, safety issues, and durability issues like servicing new parts. XOTO’s advanced design overcomes these hurdles with a patented front-wheel drive system and a self-stabilizing mechanism with readily available standard scooter parts that can be serviced almost anywhere. This technology allows riders to lean up to 45 degrees without compromising control. The scooter’s 3,000W brushless front hub motor pushes speeds up to 45 mph, while a 45-mile range on a charge for each battery suits city commutes. Adding an additional battery doubles the range for longer trips.
“You can fully lean into turns at low speeds—even at three miles per hour—and still have full control. Meaning you can have a fun ride at speeds relevant to urban environments.” Huntzinger explains. Users have access to three-speed modes, reverse functionality, and hydraulic disc brakes on all three wheels! These features translate to quicker braking, sharper manoeuvrers, and overall improved safety compared to conventional scooters.
Moreover, its lightweight design, tipping the scales at just 250 lbs, and modular parts mean repairs and upgrades are easy. XOTO aims to reduce reliance on bespoke parts and service centers so, most local motorcycle and ebike shops can handle service with standard parts. With an efficient power-to-weight ratio, XOTO uses minimal energy for maximum performance. In effect, this innovative scooter lowers emissions and eases traffic congestion. XOTO redefines what urban mobility can be for modern riders everywhere.
Go For A Test Drive On This Next-Gen Designed Scooter!
As an entrepreneur, Tim Huntzinger isn’t chasing trends, he’s building solutions for everyday riders with a focus on people. A seasoned transportation designer with an aerospace background and a passion for motorcycles, Tim doesn’t just create products, he creates solutions. In a recent Building Better with Brandon Bartneck Podcast, he was asked about the metrics and he said for him it’s not just about the KPIs or providing the proven demand. For him, it’s about providing new options for the daily user. “I want to help people to think differently about how the choose to get around by giving people options that just make more sense.” Tim’s philosophy is based on being “human-focused instead of metric-focused” and progress over perfection, XOTO, exemplifies this approach. Designed to be intuitive and accessible, XOTO isn’t just another electric scooter. It’s a transportation solution tailored for how daily city riders move get around. The front-wheel-drive system and unique self-stabilizing design make it less intimidating for newcomers and thrilling for experienced riders. On city streets, it’s fast enough to pass traffic and make every green light, but practical enough to keep running costs low.
For Tim, it’s all about the experience. “Once people try it, they get it,” he says. XOTO is currently offering test rides in Los Angeles, Tucson, and Maui. Riders can fill out the test ride waiver to get started.
