Tech Roundup: Your very own electric motorcycle subscription

Mileto's new motorcycle Spike. Photo: Courtesy of Mileto

Welcome to our Tech Roundup, where we bring you the biggest stories in technology and innovation in Brazil and Latin America. This week: A Brazilian auto-tech startup is testing market demand for electric motorcycles through a subscription model.

Subscribing to an electric motorcycle

In 2023, Brazil broke its 10-year record for registered motorcycles: more than 1.5 million, 16.2 percent more than in 2022, according to data from manufacturer association Fenabrave. While not even 2 percent of them are electric, there are a number of auto-tech startups betting that this will change in the long run.

State of play. With leading brands such as Honda and Yamaha slow to enter the segment, domestic startups have found a niche to explore. They are managing to get their electric vehicle projects off the ground by importing parts from far-flung partners, mainly in China, and creating products and services tailored to domestic needs.

Why it matters. They are testing the ground for something much bigger, as electric mobility is still a new market and not very accessible to the majority of Brazilians, as electric models can cost twice as much as conventional ones. The ecological footprint is obvious, but you have to go beyond that to win over consumers.

Sell or rent? Some startups start...

Fabiane Ziolla Menezes

Former editor-in-chief of LABS (Latin America Business Stories), Fabiane has more than 15 years of experience reporting on business, finance, innovation, and cities in Brazil. The latter recently took her back to the classroom and made her a Master in Urban Management from PUCPR. At TBR, she keeps an eye on economic policy, game-changing businesses, and people driving innovation in Latin America.