Mobike, a smart bike-sharing platform, is set to arrive in Europe when it launches in Manchester and Salford – its first locations outside of Asia – on 29 June.

In partnership with Manchester City Council, Salford City Council and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), the city in the northwest of England will become the 100^th Mobike city, and will be home to an initial fleet of 1,000 bikes.

“We’re very excited to make Manchester and Salford Mobike’s first European partners,” said Weiwei Hu, founder of Mobike. “The councils and TfGM are ideal partners to help the people of Manchester and Salford make the most of our high-tech offering.”

Mobikes are equipped with smart-lock technology and built-in GPS connected via the company’s internet of things network. Mancunians will simply be able to download the Mobike app, find a nearby bike and scan its QR code to gain access to it.

“Our aim is to be responsible, sustainable and innovative,” said Steve Pyer, general manager at Mobike UK. “We’re confident that Manchester and its residents will immediately see the benefits of our services, and the city will become a showcase for the urban transformation that is possible when cycling usage rises, and city planning leverages smart data.”