Some of Brazil's manufacturing sectors are enjoying heady success, despite the weakening national economy. One of them is the electric bicycle industry, which has recently seen a huge "revving up" in sales. CCTV correspondent Helen Clegg finds out what's kickstarted Brazil's electric bike boom.
Mateja Perovsek glides along the sea front in one of the many cycle lanes in Rio de Janeiro. The city has the second largest in Latin America. Working as a wine promoter she uses her electric bike to get her quickly from restaurant to restaurant to see her clients.
Mateja Perovsek said, "It's great. It makes life a lot easier. I don't have to look for somewhere to park. I can just leave it and go."
Mateja is just one of many people investing in electric bikes in Brazil. The bikes can reach an average of 30 km hour for 35 kilometers on a fully charged battery. The mayor of the city Eduardo Paes rode one, saying electric bikes should be considered a normal bike.
Eduardo Paes, Mayor of Rio De Janeiro,said, "You know the streets are so clogged with traffic here and around the world and if people can go around on these bikes it makes an ideal solution so we are going to fully support that."
Recent research shows that if growth continues sales of electric bikes should surpass 47 million by 2018. Here in Brazil this particular brand has increased its sales by a staggering 200% in one year.
Bruno Affonso started this business with his brother in 2009. After living in China for 3 years-where by some estimates there are more than 120 million E-bikes on the road-Affonso saw a potential market for electric bikes in Brazil. The bikes are made in China and imported to South America.
Bruno Affonso said, "It's doing good. We opened this first shop in March, right now we have 9 stores across the country and the idea is to open a store every one or two months."
But electric bikes don't come cheap here. High import taxes and probably the fact they are still a novelty mean they retail for around 1400 dollars. But for many the benefit are well-worthy. |
