Today’s mobility scooters are a diverse and growing range of products. A quick glance at the three-figure-sized collection which Lifestyle & Mobility offer for sale is testament to that! But, every story has to start somewhere. So, where did the mobility scooter concept come from? Who made the first mobility scooter? When did some of the exciting powered mobility innovations we are so familiar with enter the market?

The K-Lite FE may be well-established, but what was the first auto-folding mobility scooter ever?

The First Mobility Scooters for Sale

In 1954, the first product resembling a modern-day mobility scooter came onto the market into the US Midwest. As shown in the picture below, it’s clear that some of what makes mobility scooters what they are today was in place. But other parts, such as a back to the seat, definitely were not in place.

For reasons of comfort and similar issues, the first mobility scooter was not a success. It wouldn’t be until 14 years later that the first successful mobility scooters came onto the general market. A big name in the history of mobility scooters is that of Michigan-based engineer Al Thieme. His creation, the Amigo, was the first powered mobility scooter to appeal to a mass audience. Amigo, the company which Al founded in 1968, is still active today, and still offering mobility scooters. Within a matter of years, Al’s invention had gone international. In 1978, Raymar became the first company to bring modern mobility scooters onto the UK market. There’s a lot to be said about Raymar and their early contact with Al Thieme at Amigo. For additional detail, Lifestyle & Mobility would highly recommend this THIIS article from 2019.

Then and Now

As you can see from the early Amigo advert created by Raymar, some selling points for mobility scooters remain unchanged. To retailers and users alike of mobility scooters, words like “lightweight”, “compact”, and “manoeuverable” are very familiar.

One thing has changed greatly however. In 1978, the Raymar Amigo was the only mobility scooter available to buy in the UK. Whereas, in 2025, the variety is immense. To be honest, we wouldn’t blame you for finding it a little overwhelming. And that’s why we’re always happy to help you with whatever information and advice you may require when it comes to buying your perfect mobility scooter.

Thanks for reading!