Honda Motocompacto: Beyond Mobile App Development

This case study demonstrates how CARNEVALE’s expertise in creating emotionally engaging digital experiences helped Honda transform their Motocompacto app from a basic utility into a playful, personality-driven interface that enhanced the overall product experience.

Man removing Motocompacto scooter from truck of car

Background: Shifting Gears

When Honda’s R&D team set out to launch their innovative Motocompacto electric scooter – a modern reimagining of their iconic 1980s Motocompo – they knew the digital experience needed to be as distinctive as the scooter itself. As a global automotive leader pushing into new mobility solutions, Honda wanted to connect with a younger, tech-savvy audience who expect their digital experiences to be both functional and emotionally engaging.

Challenge: Navigating the Digital Roadmap

Honda’s R&D team needed an IoT app development partner who could design a digital experience with the same playful personality as the scooter itself. The app needed to do more than simply control settings on a scooter — it needed to be an integral part of the whole Motocompacto experience.

The R&D team needed a partner who could:

  • Design a user experience that matched the scooter’s unique character

  • Create gameplay elements that make the app fun to use

  • Make everything work with the scooter’s firmware via Bluetooth

  • Integrate with Honda’s enterprise platforms – their authentication system, CRM, and other backend systems

  • Build for both iOS and Android while meeting Honda’s IT requirements

  • Express Honda’s creative vision while protecting their brand

Solution: Accelerating the Experience

Working as an extension of Honda’s R&D team, CARNEVALE helped create a game-like digital experience. We approached this as a connected product app development project, using Unity’s game development platform to create:

  • Immersive 3D environments that users can explore

  • Playful character-driven interfaces

  • Achievement-based gamification with collectible 3D trophies

  • Bluetooth communication with the scooter’s firmware for real-time control

  • Complete integration with Honda’s backend systems

  • Full iOS and Android compatibility

Our team handled everything from initial sketches through final development. Rather than simply generating concepts, we built a complete solution that Honda could deploy. Our process started with rapid sketching to explore a lot of ideas, then evolved through storyboards and prototypes until we had something that perfectly expressed Honda’s vision.

The Final Product: The Full Throttle Experience

The Motocompacto and its companion app have proven to be a standout success, with the e-scooter being named the 2024 CES Best of Innovation winner in Vehicle Tech & Advanced Mobility. What began as a vision for a 3D game-like interface has evolved into a fully integrated platform that talks directly to Honda’s backend systems and gives users complete control of their Motocompacto.

The latest version of the app showcases CARNEVALE’s comprehensive development capabilities:

  • Works directly with Honda’s identity system so existing Honda and Acura owners can use their account credentials

  • Lets you control speed settings and security features right from the app through our custom API gateway

  • Syncs your profile, achievements, and settings across devices through cloud storage

  • Fully integrates with all of Honda’s backend systems

The app isn’t just an add-on to control settings—it’s an essential part of the entire Motocompacto experience. When someone’s riding their Motocompacto, they’re using both the vehicle and the app together. The playful personality of the scooter comes alive through the game-like interface, creating one unified experience that’s uniquely Honda.