While in the European market the limitations on the entry of gasoline vehicles into cities, the reduction and increase in parking spaces and the increase in fuel prices -a consequence of the war in Russia and Ukraine- are being the main promoters of the scooter and electric skates; In Mexico, the increase in vehicle prices could be the trigger for the purchase of new mobility solutions.
Ten years ago, and according to the manufacturers’ price lists, there were still models below 150,000 pesos; five years ago there were alternatives for 170,000 pesos. But today models below 200,000 pesos are scarce in the Mexican market.
In this inflationary context, Seat sees in two-wheeled vehicles, skates or scooters, an alternative to attract young consumers. For example, a family that has a Tarraco -which is the brand’s largest SUV- can also have one or two electric scooters for the youngest members of the family. “We believe that the Mó 125 can perfectly coexist with the brand’s vehicles in our customers’ garages”, adds Villegas.
Lucas Casasnovas, CEO of Seat MÓ, says that Seat has sold 5,000 scooter electricity at a global level -with which the emission of 375 tons of CO2 has been avoided-. Although there is still no defined sales goal for Mexico, the expectation would be to place about 1,000 units a year.
Power, autonomy and maximum speed of Seat MÓ 125
The production of the Seat MÓ 125 is carried out by Silence at a plant in Barcelona, Spain. South Korean manufacturer LG is the supplier of the battery cells, whose final assembly is also done at the Silence plant.
Battery can be recharged on-site or it can also be removed to be transported closer to the power outlet. To facilitate the transport of the 40 kilos that the battery weighs, it has an extendable handle and a set of swivel wheels to allow the driver to take the package to the nearest charging point. The recharge time it’s six to eight hours in any household outlet.
The scooter Seat’s electric has a electric motor of 9kW in the rear wheel and a battery of 5.6 kWh that deliver a power maximum equivalent to that of a motorcycle of 125 cubic centimeters and a velocity maximum of up to 95 km/h. Seat MÓ 125 goes from 0 to 50 km/h in 3.9 seconds.
Customers can choose between three drive modes: City, Sport and Eco, as well as a reverse gear (reverse) to simplify manoeuvring. It also has two USB ports that allow you to charge the phone.
Seat MÓ 125, can it be rented?
bike rental, scooter and electric motorcycles saw a dramatic decline in 2020, amid the sanitary lockdown. In May of that year, the JUMP electric bike service announced that it would stop operating in Mexico City, while the Lime scooter service temporarily halted operations.
This change in consumer trends prompted Seat to favor the direct sale of the model rather than the rental service in Mexico. However, the directors of the brand do not rule out that, in the future, the vehicle could also be available for rent via a payment application.
“We have launched this type of services where we detect business potential and obviously in Mexico we are going to evaluate it as well,” says Casasnovas.