• Mobility: The Netflix of Seat's electric motorcycles: 75 euros per week or 200 per month

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To speak of a vehicle manufacturer with less than nine years of history

in an industry with more than a century of history would immediately lead one to think of a newcomer and taking its first steps.

Or not when talking about electric mobility, still in full development.

The American Tesla does not have many more years behind it either: it was founded in 2003, although its first real model did not arrive until 2012 (it was the Model S) and today it is not only the current benchmark in this technology.

It is also valued at more than $ 635 billion, almost three times what it is worth on the Toyota Stock Exchange, a giant that sells almost 20 times as many vehicles.

The Spanish Silence is light years away from the figures of the company led by Elon Musk.

In fact,

its workforce does not reach 200 people and last year it manufactured 9,400 electric motorcycles,

but it also boasts of dominating this market with an iron fist in Spain and Europe.

In addition, it has been doing it consecutively for the last three years.

The S01 has been on the market for a year and is intended 100% for private customers

In 2020, it sold 9,028 units.

The data multiplies by more than nine the result it achieved in 2017 and was 17.2% more

than in 2020, which allowed it to reach a

65%

share

among battery-powered motorcycles in Spain,

for 9% of the second brand, the also Spanish Rieju;

and, according to provisional data from the Acem employers' association, also hold the leadership

in Europe, where its share of the pie reached 40%.

If mopeds are also considered, then these percentages drop to 31.8% in Spain and 9.8% in Europe.

Pandemic, fire in your battery plant ...

Founded in 2012 by Carlos Sotelo, a former Dakar rider, Silence even placed its Silence S02 model as the best-selling motorcycle in Spain between January and May,

to close the year in fifth place overall, with 4,333 units.

In addition, the S01, with less than a year on sale, was also the preferred model for private buyers,

with just over 600 units, while the S03 tricycle shipped a few dozen units.

All of this allowed it to end a particularly difficult year with also a record turnover:

38 million euros, a growth of 9.5%

.

The Silence S02 is especially geared towards fleets and 'motosharing'

All this, in an exercise in which to the difficulties created by the pandemic (production stopped for two months), he had to add the fire that, at the beginning of November, destroyed his battery assembly plant in Molins de Rei.

It took only 35 days to restore it, to recover - since the end of the year - a cruising speed of 120 motorcycles and 132 batteries per shift, a volume that makes Silence

the factory with the largest capacity of those implanted in Spain, including the factories of combustion motorcycles.

And that makes the company unique in Europe, since no other brand integrates the production of the vehicle and the batteries.

The 'motosharing' and technology

At present, the Silence model range includes three models.

The SO1 has been its latest launch, it offers a range of up to 115 kilometers and has a starting price of 5,995 euros.

It is also its first vehicle 100% intended for individuals, since the successful

S02 has been oriented mainly (although not exclusively) to the fleet market

(including different police and municipalities), to the last-mile delivery (Telepizza or Correos) and the booming business of 'motosharing'.

In fact, of the 14,524 electric motorcycles and mopeds sold in Spain among all brands,

13.1% were acquired by companies;

another 22.2% ended up in the hands of private clients and the remaining 64.7% were vehicles for rent.

The battery can be removed and charged at home or in the office

The SO2 has up to three variants according to its power and autonomy, in

addition to having one approved as a moped, with prices starting at

3,180 euros.

Finally,

the S03 is destined for distribution thanks to its double rear wheel

and can load up to 120 kilos, or be equipped with a double trunk with 350 liters of capacity in the rear and 200 in the front.

The three models share one of the characteristics that give the most added value to the brand's motorcycles.

Its removable battery.

Once removed from the chassis, it can be transported comfortably in the style of a 'trolley' thanks to the built-in wheels

to recharge it at home or in the office.

This is a great advantage for motosharing, since the recharge of the battery can be limited to the time of changing it for a full one.

Soleto (left) and Casasnovas (Seat MÓ) at the start of motorcycle production for the car manufacturer

Precisely, Silence supplies the vehicles for Cooltra or

Acciona's

motorcycle sharing business

, which in the coming months will become its first shareholder.

In addition, it has expanded its business lines with the production, since the end of last year, of the motorcycles (based on the S01) that Seat sells or rents through its mobility brand MÓ.

The strong international presence is the last leg on which the company led by Sotelo leans.

In 2020,

76% of its sales were carried out in Europe (including Spain) and the commercial network has a presence in more than 30 countries with 76 points of sale.

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