---
title: "Why Did Nike Custom-Build This Outrageous Motorized Shoe Spotted Rolling Around Paris?"
description: "Street spottings of the funky creation have left everyone confused, but this isn't just someone's after-work project."
date: "2019-04-11"
modified: "2019-04-11"
authors:
  - name: "Caleb Jacobs"
    job_title: "Senior Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/caleb-jacobs"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/27385/why-did-nike-custom-build-this-outrageous-motorized-shoe-spotted-rolling-around-paris"
categories:
  - "Builds"
  - "Culture"
  - "News"
---

# Why Did Nike Custom-Build This Outrageous Motorized Shoe Spotted Rolling Around Paris?

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2019/04/Screen-Shot-2019-04-11-at-10-min.png>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Parisian bystanders and i[nternet media outlets](<https://nypost.com/video/man-drives-giant-nike-shoe-around-paris/>) alike have been scratching their heads over this car-sized, motorized Nike skate shoe that's been spotted driving around the French capital. It [looks funky](<https://www.thedrive.com/design/5092/design-the-nike-sneaker-with-an-exoskeleton>), has a long-haired hipster behind the wheel, and comes with hardly any context. But, as it turns out, this is actually a marketing stunt laid out by Nike itself to promote its Zoom SB Stefan Janoski line of footwear for spring 2019.

The aforementioned driver is actually Janoski himself, a pro skateboarder from California who's among the many extreme sports athletes signed with [Nike](<https://www.thedrive.com/vintage/1356/match-nike-air-jordan-8-chromes-with-this-59-cadillac>). He can be seen strolling through Paris in the Instagram video below, shot by [@101chichi](<https://www.instagram.com/101chichi/>), or Yann Garin.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BvSLPtAln49

The right-shoe-car shows its face yet again in an article on [*Highsnobiety's* website](<https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/stefan-janoski-interview-nike-sb-2/>), which details Janoski's creative experience involving finding the perfect design and coming to an agreement with Nike to put it into production.

![message-editor%2F1555000492745-stefan-janoski-interview-nike-sb-2-main.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1555000492745-stefan-janoski-interview-nike-sb-2-main.jpg>)
**Nike**

Essentially zero is known about the oddball vehicle aside from its influence, but given the fact that it's nearly silent, we reckon it's powered by electricity. This would make sense as batteries are much easier to package inside such an unconventional body, but as you can see, practicality doesn't seem to have been in the vocabulary of whoever built this foot-shaped creation.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BvSUPY4gehC

Regardless of this car's preferred method of propulsion, it's more of an artistic exercise than anything as you can tell by the sole it possesses. *Sole.* Get it?

Okay.

## Author
Caleb Jacobs is The Drive’s senior editor. When he’s not searching for stories or poring over copy, he’s usually driving his dump truck or wishing it was running so he could drive it. He was born and raised in the Missouri Ozarks, and he lives there today with his family.

### Author social links  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/caleb-jacobs-319323119>)  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/calebjwords>)  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/calebjacobs0611>)