The two companies leading the electric scooter craze have, until now, followed a similar formula: expand to new cities, rack up big losses, raise more money, expand again.

But lately, the strategies pursued by Bird and Lime have diverged sharply. Bird has pared back growth, preferring to focus on getting profitable before expanding further, its chief executive said in an interview with The Information. Lime, in contrast, has kept focus on grabbing as much market share as it can by launching in new locations, according to people close to both companies. Sometimes, Lime’s rapid growth has led to problems with the scooters themselves.