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With Changes in Legislation, Many Popular Motorcycles Are Being Withdrawn from the Market, Changing the Way Brazilians Access Fast and Affordable Mobility. Check Out the Details of the New Law!
Motorcycles have always been a symbol of freedom and practicality in Brazil. Since the first Monark motorcycles arrived in the country in the 1950s, the market has only grown, winning the hearts of thousands of Brazilians looking for a fast and economical way to get around. But in 2023, a new law changed the landscape of popular motorcycles, declaring the end of many models that were the choice of those seeking economy on two wheels. Want to know everything about the end of popular motorcycles? Keep reading, and we will give you all the details.
What Changed with the New Law?
The change came with the implementation of the The M5 Phase of the Motorcycles and Similar Vehicles Pollution Control Program (Promot). The name may sound complicated, but the effect of this new law is very clear: starting in 2023, motorcycles equipped with carburetors have been banned from being manufactured in Brazil. The goal? To reduce pollutant emissions and make the motorcycle market more sustainable, favoring models with electronic injection, which are less harmful to the environment.
This change was not unexpected. The law was approved in 2019, giving manufacturers time to adapt. Many large brands, such as Honda, Yamaha, and Suzuki, had already updated their models to comply with the new regulations. However, some popular motorcycles, especially those that were cheaper and equipped with carburetors, were unable to keep up with this evolution and were discontinued.
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Why the End of Popular Motorcycles?
The new law brought a considerable impact to the popular motorcycle market, which has always been beloved by consumers looking for affordable transportation. Brands like Haojue and Shineray, which offered cheap and simple models, were severely affected. This is because many of their models still relied on carburetors, a technology that was completely banned by the M5 Phase of Promot.
Popular motorcycles were known for their low maintenance costs and accessibility, but the adoption of electronic injection systems, required by the new law, raises production costs. Thus, some brands were unable to adapt in time and chose to withdraw these models from the market. This includes models like Avelloz AZ1, Haojue Chopper Road 150, and several motorcycles from Shineray, such as the Phoenix 50 and the Worker 125, which can no longer be found at dealerships.
What is Promot M5?
To better understand the reasons behind these changes, it’s important to know what Promot M5 is. The Motorcycles and Similar Vehicles Pollution Control Program was created to reduce the environmental impact generated by vehicles. Since its inception, Promot has gone through several phases, each more rigorous than the last, imposing increasingly lower pollutant emission limits.
The M5 Phase is the most recent and was responsible for establishing even stricter environmental standards for motorcycles. The primary focus of this new phase was to eliminate carburetors, as they contribute to the increase of pollutants in the air. Electronic injection, which is more efficient and less polluting, became a mandatory standard as of 2023.
The idea behind this new regulation is to align the motorcycle market in Brazil with global emission reduction goals, helping the country meet environmental commitments. However, the new law also brought a challenge for brands and consumers who still preferred carbureted motorcycles due to their lower prices.
The Impact on Manufacturers
Not all motorcycle manufacturers felt the impact of the new law in the same way. Larger brands like Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, BMW, and Harley-Davidson were already prepared for this change and had been replacing carburetors with electronic injection systems in their models for years. For these manufacturers, the M5 Phase did not bring significant changes, and they continued with their lineups practically unchanged.
For smaller brands, or those that offered popular motorcycles at low prices, the story was quite different. Brands like Haojue and Shineray suffered significantly from the demands of the new law that marked the end of popular motorcycles. Models still reliant on carburetors, such as the Haojue DK 150 and the Shineray Jet 125, could not be updated in time, resulting in their withdrawal from the market.
This scenario posed a challenge for consumers, who saw a decline in the availability of low-cost motorcycles. After all, models with electronic injection are more expensive to manufacture and maintain. This means that, for many, the dream of owning a popular motorcycle may have become a little more distant.
Brazilian Motorcycle Market Adapts to New Reality
Despite the immediate impact caused by the new law, the Brazilian motorcycle market is adapting. The trend is that the transition to electronic injection and other cleaner technologies will continue, ensuring that motorcycles comply with environmental standards without losing the performance that motorcyclists appreciate.
The end of carbureted popular motorcycles marks the beginning of a new phase, where sustainability and efficiency will be the pillars of the market. More affordable motorcycles should still exist, but with more advanced technologies and, consequently, slightly higher prices.
Manufacturers are racing against time to update their portfolios and offer models that meet the new requirements while catering to consumers looking for popular motorcycles. In the coming years, it is likely that we will see new, more sustainable, and economical options emerge in the market.
Acredito que o foco no meio ambiente é a causa do preço elevado em todo produto pois obriga as montadoras e empresas a buscar soluções oque leva a custos na busca de materiais e tecnologias são desenvolvidas e isso tem custo. A princípio pago pelas empresas e depois repassado ao consumidor. Com a solução desenvolvida o governo deveria aliviar o imposto fazendo com que os valores não tivessem que ser elevados, permitindo o acesso à compra a um preço mais justo entre comprador e fabricante.
Daniel Ferreira do Nascimento
O problema não são as motos e sim os pseudos motociclistas, conduzem o veículo como doidos, aí prejudica o trânsito mata inocentes, são muito irresponsáveis, as motos são muito baratas, as bicicletas são caríssimas, tem alguma voiss errada.