Isolation has already passed its first month in Argentina and is changing various habits in society. While protocols are prepared in offices to maintain physical distance and increase disinfection, the concern will be how to get to the workplace avoiding public transportation, especially during peak hours.
Every day, in the city of Buenos Aires, eight million people travel by buses, trains and subways. According to Kantar figures, seven out of ten Argentines will modify the way they move, with the premise of avoiding public transport due to the crowding of passengers.
In this situation, an alternative that until recently few people evaluated will be imposed: the skateboard, which in recent months has gained mass thanks to applications such as Grin or Movo.
Increasing demand
"Skateboard inquiries increased fivefold in the last 30 days. From 100 weekly calls they went to 560. Most clients communicate more than once to keep informed and make the purchase," Martín Maestrojuan, commercial director of the company specialized in electric mobility MAX YOU.
In addition, there is another key fact: the main market players are increasing imports due to growing demand. "In 2019 some 9,500 units entered the country. This year, 15,000 are already being projected," reveals Maestrojuan, whose company has already entered almost 3,000 units, of which only 900 are in stock.
Felipe Luongo, head of Newsan's Electric Mobility division, which markets Philco skateboards, confirms the growth in sales. "After the pandemic, they are presented as a more than interesting option, just like any individual means, such as electric bicycles. We are facing a change in habits that aims at prevention, saving in daily mobility and better quality of life, "he explains.
"What is happening will cause alterations that will not be reversed. It is rational to understand that mobility, once we can go out, will break with the previous paradigm and a new way of moving will come," says Luongo.
Christian Gudalewicz, managing partner of Airwheel Argentina, marketer of brands that comprise all ranges, such as Speedway, Dualtron, Zero, Ninebot by Segway and Xiaomi, ratifies the increase in sales through digital channels.
"Many customers have been looking for skateboards since the insulation started. In addition, there is a curious fact: for the youngest they take the unicycle," explains the manager. In sales projections, managers foresee a 50% rise for 2020 compared to last year and foresee a great change in demand: it will no longer only include the youngest.
"When we started, we thought it was only for millennials. Today we find people from 40 to 50 years old who buy it to travel the last mile. That is, since they left public transport or their car, somewhere in the City, until I get to work ", explains Maestrojuan.
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Foldable, the most practical options to combine with other means of transport.
"Today it is very expensive to keep a car or pay for a garage when you get to work, so many see skateboarding as the most accessible and practical option to travel about 10km to work," he adds. In Newsan, they are "surprised by the high demand" and confirm the growth of queries and the "unexpected" variety of the profile of those interested.
Another fact that Luongo highlights is that the penetration of skateboards and electric bicycles in the cities of Argentina is greater than in those of more developed countries, such as Paris or Lyon, in France.
Models, prices and tips to consider
Companies in Argentina offer different products, with a wide range of prices and qualities. Among the "boot" models, values range from $ 20,000 to $ 70,000. For more demanding users, the proposals start at $ 1,000 and go as high as $ 5,000.
The autonomy, in general averages 25 kilometers, although there are more complete –and heavy– models that cover twice as much with a single charge. A determining factor is weight, so the client's choice will depend on their mobility needs:
- Combine its use with another medium (for example, the subway): a light unit should be chosen. Options start at 14 kilos
- Go and return to work: if you do not have to lift it, you can choose a heavier one, with higher battery performance. In this case, the weight of up to 30 kilos
In the case of Philco, its most equipped model offers double disc brakes (a characteristic that no other has), integrated lights, stop light, after-sales services and high-quality materials.
"I divide micro mobility into two: one, to travel about 5 kilometers per day; another, to reach up to 50 kilometers per day. In the first, the user understands that he can pay $ 60,000. In the second, a more robust unit will be in 200,000 pesos, "explains Luongo.
In MAX YOU highlight that all products are prepared for people who weigh more than 80 kilos, an important issue to avoid problems with the warranty at the time of service. In addition, they offer different types of brakes: disc, traditional bicycle or motorcycle and motor.
The versions, in general, are differentiated by the battery. "70% of the value of the product depends on this. The bigger the skateboard, the more autonomy and comfort it has, but it is heavier," they point out.
Maestrojuan recommends starting with an intermediate product ($ 40,000), with stop light, disc brake and 25 km autonomy, like its S5 model. Then, as the user grows stronger and gets to know the vehicle, they can go towards something better.
To choose a product, there are several aspects to consider. Most of the models come from China. Of course, there are more installed brands that have weight globally.
"Minimotors is the number one in the world, which, at the same time, has two subcategories with different models," say Grupo Kasia, which started selling electric skateboards in the country two years ago. Then Zero is positioned as one of the most important, and Xiaomi as the ideal to start in this world. "In general, the first buyers choose a Xiaomi and then it climbs to superior qualities," they trust from Kasia. In terms of prices, there is a wide gap that ranges from $ 800 to $ 7,000.
The number of businesses and importers that were joining the market grew strongly in the last year, and there are more and more players. One of them is AirWheel, which markets five brands:
- AirWheel: just like the name of the company, with two models and four versions, whose prices vary between u $ s430 and u $ s635
- Ninebot by Segway: three proposals from $ 1,100 to $ 1,400
- Xiaomi: three models between $ 950 and $ 1,150
- Minimotors: eight skateboards in the range of $ 1,050 to $ 7,200
- Zero: its variants cost between US $ 1,400 and US $ 1,700
For its part, the Rosario Air Computer has a line of skateboards, in which the star is the Mobox CS 518, which is offered for $ 35,000. "It has a top speed of 25km / h and autonomy of 20km. It comes with a front headlight and red brake lights, a digital touch panel and supports up to 120kg," explains Airoldi.
Who has just joined the market is Grupo Núcleo with Fiat skateboards. Maximiliano Gonzalez Kunz, founder of the firm and CEO of PCBOX, remarks: "With the Product Development team we are constantly searching for news and trends, in which the possibility of making synergy with Fiat in this segment arose."
Mauro Guerrero, President of Grupo Núcleo, tells iProUP: "The folding E-Scooter is an electric skateboard with the best combination of design and quality." Its price: $ 35,000.
Kasia, meanwhile, sells Minimotors, with its Dualtron and Speedway lines, and Xiaomi. From the company they trust iProUP: "We are passionate about alternative mobility, we saw a commercial streak in this and there are several projects underway."
In general, all sellers offer, along with skateboards, other products to move electrically, some already approved and others in this process. This is the case of Air Computer, which works in a small cargo vehicle to do internal logistics in companies; or AirWheel, which sells the unicycle for those looking to reinforce balance skills.
Beyond sales and numbers, the most sought-after options in Mercado Libre, as a reference to understand what the customer wants, are the following:
1) Electric Skateboard My Electric Scooter
2) Xiaomi Electric Skateboard
3) Fiat Electric Skateboard
4) Xiaomi 7.8 Electric Skateboard
What sellers recommend is that the chosen model has after-sales service, since it is important to go to the service when it is needed. As with cars, they require maintenance (much cheaper), but it allows them to circulate safely and know that they will reach their destination on time.
Electric bikes and motorcycles
The experts in electric mobility agree that, in the face of the pandemic, the use of skateboards, electric bicycles, motorcycles will grow strongly in the world. "There are two essential triggers: one, taking care of yourself; the second, taking care of the other," they argue.
According to Luongo, the growth curve is faster for skateboards, although he points out that "in larger cities, with long distances, other products with greater autonomy can be demanded." In this sense, Lino Steffanuto, director of Cafam, the Chamber of Motorcycle Manufacturers that calls for the opening of factories and dealers, warns that an opportunity is being lost because these vehicles and helmets are "insulating" against contagions.
"Skateboards are used for relatively short distances. Then, whether it is the need to travel more kilometers or the search for more stability, bicycles and motorcycles will be the next step," they conclude from Philco.
