InsightEV Weekender: Week 20

We continued our Brazil coverage with a fund that is offering serious money and support to any OEM

Published : May 19, 2025
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Greetings and welcome back to the InsightEV Weekender. Here, we like to focus on things we did not cover during the week.


Continuing from last week, our coverage of Brazil took us to YvY Capital. This fund wants to invest in companies that can manufacture and introduce electric motorcycles in the Brazilian market. It’s not that simple, as Brazil is really at the starting point of electric mobility. There is no ecosystem, no supply chain, and the (cheap) Chinese have already started making inroads.

But, YvY points out, Brazil has its fundamentals in the right place. The grid is 88% clean and renewables-driven, and there are a couple of million delivery riders across the most populated cities of the country. They ride 160cc motorcycles, sometimes dual-sport ones, not exactly the cleanest or the most fuel-efficient ones around. It’s a market waiting to turn, and YvY wants to be the ones who provide the initial help.

YvY has a strong footing. They have the backing of iFood, a delivery giant with more than 95% of the Brazilian food delivery market. A huge chunk of the above-mentioned delivery riders are working for iFood.

So you have funding and a ready market. What may be missing? Head to:

600,000 e-Motorcycles/year by 2035… – InsightEV
That is an audacious target for a market that, if all goes well, may reach 11,000 electric motorcycles in 2025. In the year 2035, the 600k motorcycles

Also, don’t miss the previous analysis of Brazil. You can find it here.

Brazil: The Big Market is About to Turn – InsightEV
Even with 1.9m two-wheeler sales in 2024 and a grid that is 90% green, Brazil has shied away from electric. Till now, that is. Things may be changing

Ather reverses the Trend?

We added the question mark later. It’s not in the original story.

Ather’s results are pretty good in the sense that Gross Margins (even though we don’t believe in that metric) have improved, EBITDA margins have improved (though still very negative), and revenues are up.

Ather Reverses the Trend - InsightEV
Ather Reverses the Trend – InsightEV
Ather Energy, the oldest bona fide E2W start-up in India, is hitting the Indian bourses soon with a USD 350 million IPO at a valuation of USD 1.4 billion.

We are always sceptical about financials immediately after an IPO. Companies are at their best behaviour, are prudent, and the numbers are unbelievably good. In some cases, they start deteriorating right after.

Case in point, Ola Electric.

While Ather Energy is not Ola, we will closely watch them for consistency. We may be skeptical, but we remain optimists.


Damon Resigns to the Pink Market

Last week, we pointed out that Damon had been kicked out of the Nasdaq. Now, the Canadian electric motorcycle aspirant has decided not to contest the Nasdaq’s delisting determination. Instead, Damon will take their shares on the OTC Pink Current Market maintained by OTC Markets Group, Inc.


Yadea Starts Manufacturing in Mexico

Yadea has announced the start of production at its Mexican plant. The Chinese manufacturer has been on a roll in terms of international expansion. They have also started production in Brazil.

In Mexico, Yadea plans to establish over 150 retail stores and employ more than 1,000 people by the end of 2025.


Remember Carver?

They had a pretty nifty tilting three-wheeler and (theoretically) made a strong case for personal, fleet as well as cargo use. The Dutch tilting three-wheeler manufacturer funded by Bloomit Ventures went under in July 2024.

Carver folded up in July 2024

Now their IP has been acquired by Belgium-based Kerv Automotive, another startup that has developed a highway-capable enclosed vehicle (just like Carver) with a tilting mechanism. They promise the agility of a motorcycle with the safety and comfort of a car.

Undoubtedly, the Carver IP will help Kerv get to market faster, but it remains to be seen if there is ample demand for innovative high-speed enclosed tilting three-wheelers.


That’s a wrap for today. This newsletter will be back next Sunday. The posts on the website are more frequent. This is your editor, and you may view my LinkedIn profile here.

Previous Article

600,000 e-Motorcycles/year by 2035…

That is an audacious target for a market that, if all goes well, may reach 11,000 electric motorcycles in 2025. In the year 2035, the 600k motorcycles would be about 20% of the market. However, YvY Capital believes this is an achievable target and is willing to fund startups on…

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Niu Q1: Sacrificing Margins for Volumes is Working for Now

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