Electric car sales in Brazil recorded an impressive 91% growth in 2023, with a total of 93,927 vehicles purchased, according to figures released by the Brazilian Electric Vehicle Association (ABVE). The figure represents a significant leap compared to 2022, when 49,245 electric vehicles were sold. This growth is driving important innovations in different sectors that feed the segment, including the tire retreading industry. The maxim is a strong trend highlighted at EXPOBOR and PNEUSHOW 2024, considered the largest and leading rubber technology fairs in Latin America, taking place from June 26 to 28 at Expo Center Norte in São Paulo.
One of the main focuses of the 15th edition of the events is electric cars, with cutting-edge technologies that strengthen the tires of these vehicles. Among the innovations presented are products developed to guarantee the best performance and sustainability for cars.
An example of this is Vipal, which has launched DV-UMe, the first tire tread developed specifically for electric vehicles. This product was created with a special compound that offers excellent mileage performance and greater resistance to wear, both in normal conditions and when used on electric vehicles. The DV-UMe is ideal for city buses and refuse collection trucks, which are already trending in Europe as heavy-duty vehicles, demonstrating the brand’s versatility and innovation in creating solutions for the new era of mobility.
Another highlight of Exopobor and Pneushow is SpeedMax, a CantuStore brand, which has expanded its cargo tire portfolio with the launch of SpeedMax Energrip, the first model developed for electric cars. This tire was designed for the BYD Dolphin Mini and is the first Brazilian brand to offer a tire compatible with this model on the replacement market.
“Electric and hybrid cars are generally heavier. So this tire needs to be built with another compound to support this additional weight and, at the same time, it needs to be a tire with low drag resistance to save battery power and thus be more sustainable. Tires need to be developed specifically for each type of use and this work requires a lot of science. And Brazil has an additional issue, which is the uneven asphalt, with lots of undulations and potholes. The tire needs to be designed taking this into account as well, it needs to last and withstand the irregularities,” explains former Formula 1 driver and two-time world champion Emerson Fittipaldi, who was present at the fair as an ambassador for Magnum Tires, the supplier of the original tires for the GWM Ora and the BYD Song Plus.
Even with the arrival of a new tax burden, ABVE estimates that the electric car market will continue to grow in Brazil, especially with the start of the federal government’s new program, Mover (Green Mobility and Innovation). The government initiative aims to cut R$3 billion in taxes from the mobility sector, further encouraging the adoption of electric vehicles in the country.
Check out the highlights of the first day of the events:
Official opening ceremony
During the opening ceremony, we had important personalities for the tire and rubber sectors, such as Senator and president of ABR, Margareth Buzzetti, who emphasized that “the exchange of information and knowledge about new technologies are essential to strengthen companies in this increasingly robust market. It’s important to reflect on the importance of having strong companies, as this has a direct impact on the sustainability and efficiency of the sector.”
“We are sure that Francal and its partner organizations have contributed greatly to the development of the rubber and tire retreading sector since our first edition in 1996,” added Abdala Jamil Abdala, Chairman of Francal, in his speech.
Other personalities present were Marcelo Zaidan, president of Sindibor; and Giulio Cesar Claro, president of ARESP. The speeches were impactful for the entire audience, showing how much the sector is growing and being increasingly recognized, both by the public and private sectors. “Over the next few days, we will be presenting the technological advances that have been redefining our processes and products. The future of our industries depends on economic progress and the preservation of the planet,” said Marcelo Zaidan, president of Abiarb and Sindibor.
Opening panel: Global macrotrends up to 2040
The macro trends that will shape the future by 2040 were the main focus of the event’s opening panel. The presentation brought insights and discussions on how technology is present in society and how it will be even more evolved by 2040. The panel included Rafael Cervone Neto, vice-president of FIESP and president of CIESP; Marcelo Zaidan, president of SINDIBOR; Giulio Cesar Claro, president of ARESP; and Antonio Carlos Spalletta, director and editor of Borracha Atual magazine, as mediator.
The chat inspired the audience with approaches to the application of technology in various markets such as health, transportation, education, food, among others. It was pointed out that in areas such as the automobile industry, where Brazil has a solution that is the only one that the market considers clean, since ethanol is a very clean energy matrix compared to the rest of the world, between electric and hybrid cars. The entertainment and tourism sectors are using the metaverse and how companies can use these tools to their advantage to bring even more news to the market. And in the energy sector, supercapacitors are expected to reach US$ 16.95 billion in 2027, an increase of 418% compared to 2019.
SERVICE
EXPOBOR AND PNEUSHOW 2024
Days and times: From June 26 to 28, from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Venue: Expo Center Norte – Rua José Bernardo Pinto, 333, São Paulo – SP
Official EXPOBOR and PNEUSHOW 2024 website – click here
Official registration page – click here
About EXPOBOR
EXPOBOR, the main and largest rubber technology event in Latin America, brings together products, machinery, solutions and innovations for the production of rubber artifacts in various industrial segments, such as the automotive industry, mobility, footwear, oil, pneumatics, steel, electronics, construction, hospitality, among others. The fair offers a complete experience, including exhibitions, networking, business opportunities, congresses, seminars, lectures and special projects in partnership with academic and sector entities, making it an international benchmark in industrial technology.
About PNEUSHOW
PNEUSHOW is the sector’s leading trade fair, presenting products, machines, solutions and innovations that cover all stages of a tire’s useful life. Manufacturers, dealers, retreaders and transporters come together every two years to drive the evolution of technology on wheels and contribute to a more sustainable society. PNEUSHOW offers a complete experience for participants, with exhibitions, networking opportunities, congresses, seminars, lectures and special projects developed in collaboration with academic partners and representative sector entities. The event is an international reference in tire production and retreading technologies, connecting the present with the future of innovation in mobility.
About Francal
Francal was founded in the city of Franca, in the interior of São Paulo, in 1969. For 55 years it has contributed to fostering economic and social development, operating in 15 multiple sectors, attracting connections between national and international companies. In more than five decades, we have become one of the largest and most solid event promoters in the country and today we have 16 fairs in our portfolio. In 2024, established as an ecosystem for events, Francal envisions an upwardly mobile future in offering connections and advancing business.