Brazil's 99 and iFood push electric motorcycle rollout amid global EV market surge

Brazilian delivery platforms 99 and iFood are investing more than R$45 million each to develop a domestic ecosystem for electric motorcycles. The plan includes partnering with Chinese manufacturer Yadea, testing battery‑swap capable bikes in São Paulo, and eventually establishing a production facility—potentially in the Manaus free‑trade zone—while building a supply chain of local battery makers, manufacturers and service providers.

Meanwhile, the International Energy Agency reports that global sales of battery‑electric and plug‑in hybrid vehicles rose 35 % in the second quarter of 2026, reaching about 9.2 million units for the first half of the year. Europe is now the leading growth market, while China’s sales have plateaued after a decade of rapid expansion and the United States is feeling the impact of the end of federal EV purchase incentives. The agency projects that electrified vehicles will account for roughly 29 % of all new car sales in 2026.