AUSTIN, Texas — Ride-share app Fasten is hitting the brakes. 

In an email sent out to users, Fasten said it is shutting down operations in Austin and Boston on March 5.

A statement from Fasten states: “Fasten has agreed to be acquired by Vezet Group, one of the top ten ride-hailing companies across the globe. While they will be using our brand and our technology to grow their business in other parts of the world, they will be freezing our operations in the U.S.”

Fasten first came to Austin in June 2016, after Uber and Lyft left the city after Austin City Council passed a law mandating ride-share companies perform fingerprint background checks on drivers. In May 2017 Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed House Bill 100, overruling that law.

In June 2017 Fasten celebrated its first anniversary with a party for riders with hopes to stay in town for a the foreseeable future.

"Nothing changes for us. Local folks have no reason to switch. They love Fasten; they share our values. We may get less visitors because it's hard to convince people to install the app they have never heard about it, but we always been focusing more on local riders and local drivers," said Kirill Evdakov, Fasten's CEO in a June 2017 interview.