São Paulo: City Hall PROHIBITS the circulation of ‘tuk-tuks’ in the city

Since April 13, Grilo Mobilidade has been working with its alternative proposal of electric tricycles, better known as “tuk-tuks”. However, last Monday, the 24th, the service was blocked in São Paulo by the city government.

Grilo Mobilidade’s proposal is similar to Uber and 99. With access to the application, after registering and defining the payment method, you call a vehicle to make a trip.

Something attractive about the “crilos,” as the company’s tuk-tuks are called, is their adaptability and more sustainable approach. The vehicle seats two passengers plus the driver and runs on electric power.

When they first started operating in São Paulo, their operating hours were set between 8am and 8pm, Monday through Saturday. The company responsible for the vehicles intended to compete with ride-hailing apps on short trips.

To increase driver engagement, the company began offering more attractive ride transfers compared to other traditional and better-known mobility operators.

Check out the ‘face’ of São Paulo’s tuk-tuks

Grilo Mobilidade’s electric vehicles are very similar to Asian tuk-tuks. However, the ones used in São Paulo have undergone adjustments to comply with Brazilian legislation. As such, they are closed, have electric windows, door locks and seat belts, ensuring comfort and safety for the driver and passengers.

These vehicles can reach a maximum speed of 50 km/h. Therefore, they present themselves as a cheaper and more sustainable option for short distance trips, which are generally not preferred by traditional app drivers.

So, if this type of vehicle has even made adjustments to meet the demands of Brazilian vehicle legislation and is a more sustainable option, why did the City of São Paulo prohibit its circulation?

Why were the vehicles stopped?

According to the City Hall, tuk-tuks in São Paulo are not fully compliant with the registration policies for transport operators. In the current format, registration is only permitted for vehicles driven by drivers with a type B driver’s license.

Furthermore, the speed limit that these vehicles can reach is also a challenge. This is because we still don’t know the extent of the impact they have on traffic and how to adapt them to public demand.