The Razor scooter was one of the most popular toys of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Its simple yet innovative design made Razor scooters a must-have item for kids and teens. But when exactly did Razor scooters first hit the market? Let’s take a closer look at the history of the Razor scooter to find out.
The Origins of the Razor Scooter
The Razor scooter was invented by a team led by Gino Tsai, a Taiwanese-born engineer. In the late 1990s, Tsai was working for J.D. Corporation, a Taiwanese company that manufactured aluminum bicycles. Tsai came up with the idea for a compact kick scooter with inline skate wheels after noticing young people in Taiwan improvising their own scooters out of scrap material.
Tsai made a prototype of his kick scooter design in 1998. The key innovations included aircraft-grade aluminum construction, a hinged fender over the rear wheel, and a folding mechanism for portability. Tsai patented his design in Taiwan in 1998 and in the US in 1999.
Founding of Razor USA
To market his scooter invention internationally, Tsai teamed up with entrepreneurs Carlton Calvin and JD Corporation executive Jeffrey Schwartz. The three founded a company called Razor USA in Cerritos, California in 1999.
Razor USA licensed Tsai’s patent and contracted with manufacturing plants in Taiwan to produce the scooters. The name “Razor” was chosen to emphasize the scooter’s cutting-edge design.
Launch and Popularity of the Razor Scooter
Razor USA began selling the original Razor kick scooter in the United States in 1999. It retailed for $99 and was initially sold through specialty sporting goods stores. Sales were initially slow.
In early 2000, Razor got a huge break – the Razor scooter was featured on a popular ABC television program. Almost overnight, demand skyrocketed as kids across America decided they had to have a Razor scooter.
By the end of 2000, Razor USA sold over 5 million scooters as the Razor became the must-have toy of the year. Razor dominated the scooter market, accounting for about 90% of US scooter sales in 2000.
Evolution of the Razor Scooter
After the initial success of the original Razor scooter, Razor USA went on to release new and improved models over the years:
| Year | Model | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Razor Pro | Aluminum alloy frame, urethane wheels, retractable kickstand |
| 2003 | Razor Pro Elite | Redesigned folding mechanism, lighter weight, foam rubber grips |
| 2004 | Razor E100 | Electric motor powered by batteries |
| 2006 | Razor E200 | Upgraded electric motor and chain-driven transmission |
| 2012 | Razor California | Classic kick scooter with fixed handlebars, larger urethane wheels |
While sales have fluctuated over the years, Razor has remained one of the biggest names in scooters. They have continued innovating with new electric and hybrid scooter models right up to the present day.
The Impact of the Razor Scooter
The Razor scooter helped launch a scootering craze in the late 1990s and 2000s. Here are some of the ways Razor changed the scootering landscape:
- Made scooters widely popular in the US, especially among kids and teens
- Pioneered lightweight aluminum construction and folding mechanisms for scooters
- Introduced innovative production techniques like extruded aluminum and injection molding to scooter manufacturing
- Sold over 5 million units in the first year, showing the massive demand for scooters
- Inspired numerous other brands to create their own scooters to compete with Razor
- Laid the groundwork for the rise of electric and hybrid scooters
Razor scooters have left a permanent mark, changing the way generations of kids and teens play and commute. Nearly 25 years after the original Razor launch, Razor continues to be a leading scooter brand worldwide.
Conclusion
Based on this research, we can conclude that the original Razor kick scooter that started it all first launched in 1999. The Razor scooter was invented by Gino Tsai in 1998 after he recognized the demand for a compact, smooth-riding kick scooter. Tsai partnered with entrepreneurs in the US to form Razor USA and begin mass-producing his patented scooter design in 1999.
The Razor scooter debuted in the US market in 1999 with an initial price tag of $99. Sales steadily climbed, then suddenly exploded in 2000 after the Razor was featured on a popular TV show. More than 5 million Razor scooters were sold in 2000 alone, making it the must-have toy of the year.
Razor dominated the scooter market in the early 2000s thanks to its innovative lightweight, folding design. Over the years, Razor continued releasing new and improved models, including electric motor powered scooters. The introduction of the original Razor kick scooter in 1999 sparked a scootering craze that continues to this day.
