Panel SA: Drone market should grow for delivery and agricultural applications, says owner of Multilaser

In recent days, electronics manufacturer Multilaser has given new signs of its intentions towards the electric mobility market.

This week, it announced the acquisition of an electric vehicle startup called Watts, just days after entering the drone market in an import partnership.

With a portfolio that has more than 5,000 products, from smartphones to toys, the company is investing in a unit in Manaus and should soon start manufacturing electric motorcycles, according to Alexandre Ostrowiecki, CEO of Multilaser. For drones, there is also interest in local production.

“The drone market makes us excited about the technological possibilities in the recreational, but especially, and increasingly, in professional applications, such as agriculture, high quality video execution, and in the future, deliveries”, says the entrepreneur.

Ostrowiecki also joined this week in the movement led by retail giants to combat the so-called digital camelódromo. The IRS is studying a measure to prevent foreign e-commerces from selling to Brazilians without paying taxes.

“I think it’s great that there are many companies selling products and everyone should be welcome to Brazil, as long as they pay taxes the same as Brazilians”, he says.

Multilaser announced the acquisition of the electric motorcycle startup that you guys this week. In addition to the expansion in the mobility market, what is the importance of the business for distribution? Multilaser is very excited about electric mobility technology as it contributes a lot to improving the environment, especially in cities, and also allows for fuel savings, helping people’s pockets.

Currently, we already have a line of electric bikes, scooters and scooters. With the purchase of Watts, we will double our portfolio and start producing our 100% electric motorcycle.

We are investing heavily in our Manaus plant and soon we want to be the first 100% electric motorcycle manufacturer.

This month, you also announced your entry into the drone market. This is a market that has been talking about new applications, but is still focused on recreational. How do you look at this horizon? Will there be a drone factory in Brazil? The drone market also excites us with the technological possibilities in recreational, but especially, and increasingly, in professional applications such as agriculture, high-quality video shooting, and, in the future, deliveries.

We also have plans to eventually produce the drones in Brazil. However, for the year 2022, the idea is to start and get to know this market better through distribution.

Mr. followed the efforts of several industrial sectors in the request for a reduction of the IPI? Some of them think that another fall is possible. like mr. see this subject for the Manaus Free Trade Zone? Yes. I think that, in general, lowering taxes is a very good measure, especially indirect taxes, which fall directly on the prices of consumer products, proportionally affecting the poor more.
Taxes ideally need to be low, simple, progressive, with the rich paying more, and difficult to evade.

At the same time, when there is any sectoral distortion, such as the Manaus Free Trade Zone, reasonable deadlines are needed for the industry to adapt to the new rules.

What about this movement of business entities together with authorities to combat the so-called digital camelódromo? I think it’s great that there are many companies selling products and everyone should be welcome to Brazil, as long as they pay taxes the same as Brazilians.

For years I have seen the entities representing the formal market pointing out loopholes in the law that allow smuggling and I decided to support this cause so just and important for the formal market and for the defense of jobs.

Today, nearly 10 million retail jobs are at risk due to certain websites that ship counterfeit or under-invoiced products.

It is necessary to close the gaps and then let the free market take its course, with the same tax burden for everyone.

Has the semiconductor shortage crisis cooled down?The situation is much better than at the height of the pandemic, however, some critical components continue to have very slow supply, especially the microprocessors, which are the heart of all electronics.

For example, last week I was negotiating with a major manufacturer of cellphone processors, and they are asking for full-year 2022 pre-orders so they can guarantee production.

And war in Ukraine? What are the impacts?For now, the war in Ukraine is not affecting the supply of electronics.

And I hope that Brazil will always be on the side of democracies and against international aggression.

And the electoral scene? Which wait?The electoral race is very open, and I feel the voter is still far from the political decision. In addition to the presidential race, I hope that voters give more importance to the Legislature.

X-ray

CEO of Multilaser. Graduated in business administration from FGV (Fundação Getúlio Vargas), he has an MBA in the area from Ibmec and a specialization in management from the Harvard Business School. Previously, he worked in Unilever’s finance department and Accenture’s strategy department.

Joana Cunhawith Andressa Motterand Ana Paula Branco