- The Brazilian Report
- Posts
- 🛴 A new scooter boom?
🛴 A new scooter boom?
A few years ago, the scooter rental industry surged in popularity in Brazil — only to crash just as swiftly. Now, two Russian startups believe they’ve cracked the code to ensure history doesn’t repeat itself
Letícia Arcoverde
January 22, 2025 • Reading Time: 3 minutes
Welcome back to Brazil Business! Today, we tell you the story of two startups hoping to bring electric scooters back to Brazilian streets. If you have any questions about this newsletter, or topics you’d like to see covered in future issues, you can reach us at [email protected]
Russian startups want to rebuild Brazil’s electric scooter rental market
Scooter rentals try to make a comeback in Brazil. Photo: Angélica Alves /Fotoarena/Folhapress
Electric scooters are once again zipping through the streets of São Paulo, Brazil’s largest city — a familiar sight that returned late last year.
In December, the São Paulo city government began piloting scooter rental apps in neighborhoods such as Pinheiros and Jardim Paulista, home to some of the city’s financial hubs. Just a few years ago, it was common to see executives cruising down Faria Lima Avenue (Brazil’s answer to Wall Street) on scooters, a trend so ubiquitous it became meme fodder.
But by 2020, a mix of regulatory pushback, financial woes and the pandemic brought the service to a screeching halt in Brazil.
Now, two Russian companies are betting that advancements in technology and a more cooperative approach to regulation will help reintroduce Brazilians to electric scooter rentals — and make the service stick this time around.
