Brazil's National Traffic Council (CONTRAN) officially released Resolution No. 996 in 2023, establishing a clear four-tier classification system for light electric two-wheelers. The new regulatory scheme will be fully rolled out starting from January 2026, bringing standardized supervision and updated compliance thresholds for electric two-wheeler imports across the country. As Brazil's electric mobility market booms, the new rules have reshaped the market access standards for Chinese electric scooters and e-bikes, requiring overseas exporters to adjust product design and compliance strategies in advance to avoid penalties and customs clearance risks.
Clear Four-Tier Classification Framework Under Brazil's New Traffic Rules
The core of Resolution No. 996 lies in differentiated management based on motor power, maximum speed, vehicle dimensions and operating modes, with distinct usage costs and license requirements for each category. This classified supervision model fundamentally distinguishes personal mobility tools from motor vehicles, setting clear boundaries for market circulation and road use.
Tier 1: Bicicleta Elétrica (Electric Bicycle)
This category is defined as pedal-assist electric bicycles, which can only be driven by human pedaling with motor auxiliary power. Throttle grips are strictly prohibited. The technical thresholds include a maximum motor power of 1000W and a top speed of 32km/h. Vehicles in this tier enjoy full exemptions: no license plate, no driver's license, and access to dedicated bicycle lanes, with the lowest market entry threshold.
Tier 2: Equipamento de Mobilidade Autopropelido (Self-Propelled Mobility Equipment)
As the most market-friendly category, this type of vehicle allows pure electric driving via throttle grips without pedaling operation. It retains the same power and speed limits as Tier 1 (≤1000W, ≤32km/h) but adds strict dimensional restrictions: vehicle width ≤70cm and wheelbase ≤130cm. Similar to electric bicycles, it is exempt from license plates and driving licenses, making it the mainstream choice for urban commuting, food delivery and daily travel in Brazil.
Tier 3: Ciclomotor (Moped)
Vehicles with motor power ranging from 1000W to 4000W and a top speed of 32-50km/h fall into this tier. Classified as motor vehicles by law, they face mandatory compliance requirements including official registration, license plate application, compulsory insurance and annual inspections. Riders must hold ACC or Class A driving licenses, which greatly increases the purchase and usage cost, significantly reducing market acceptance among price-sensitive consumers.
Tier 4: Motocicleta Elétrica (Electric Motorcycle)
Any electric two-wheeler with motor power exceeding 4000W or maximum speed over 50km/h is categorized as a standard electric motorcycle. It is subject to the strictest supervision, covering full compliance procedures such as professional driving license, regular annual inspection, mandatory insurance and relevant traffic taxes, suitable for high-power and high-speed travel scenarios.
Scenario 1: Fully compliant Chinese new national standard e-bikes (throttle-free)
Vehicles equipped with functional pedals, without throttle grips, and limited to 25km/h fully match Brazil's Tier 1 electric bicycle standards, enjoying exemption from licenses and plates.
However, two key risks cannot be ignored. First, Brazilian law implicitly requires practical pedal functions; purely decorative, non-operable pedals will be rejected by local law enforcement. Second, a small number of compliant new standard models with auxiliary power start functions still belong to Tier 1, while most modified models on the market do not meet the standard.
Scenario 2: Mainstream Chinese e-scooters with throttle grips
Most conventional domestic small e-scooters adopt throttle control, with power ranging from 500W to 800W, speed within 32km/h, and dimensions meeting Tier 2 requirements. Theoretically, they qualify for unlicensed and unregistered road use. Nevertheless, there is a prominent law enforcement grey zone in actual supervision.
Brazil's Tier 2 positioning leans toward lightweight personal mobility tools such as electric scooters and balance cars, rather than seat-heavy, motorcycle-shaped e-scooters common in Chinese exports. Local law enforcement officers prioritize visual judgment over precise parameter measurement.
Vehicles with large seat buckets, complete footrests, heavy weight (over 45kg) and 60V battery configurations are easily identified as Tier 3 mopeds on-site, resulting in vehicle detention and fines, even if their technical parameters comply with Tier 2 standards.
Scenario 3: High-power and speed-unlocked modified vehicles
Any electric two-wheeler with an actual speed over 32km/h or power exceeding 1000W will be directly classified as Tier 3 moped or Tier 4 electric motorcycle, regardless of pedal configuration. It is worth noting that Brazilian regulatory authorities test actual output power, controller parameters and motor peak power, rather than merely referring to the rated power marked on the nameplate.
Many Chinese manufacturers only modify nameplate parameters to meet Tier 2 standards while retaining high-power configurations. This speculative approach will face severe compliance penalties as Brazil's supervision gradually tightens in 2026.
Market Value of Tier 2 and Optimized Export Product Strategies
Since the official implementation of the new rules in January 2026, major Brazilian cities including São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro have strengthened crackdowns on non-compliant electric vehicles, while law enforcement in small and medium-sized cities is relatively lenient with a phased supervision window. Among the four tiers, Tier 2 self-propelled mobility equipment has become the most cost-effective and mainstream market segment, with irreplaceable market advantages.
Tier 1 electric bicycles fail to meet local consumer demand for long endurance, load capacity and manned travel due to pedal-assisted limitations. Tier 3 and Tier 4 vehicles are hindered by high usage costs such as license application, certification and insurance, resulting in low market popularity. In contrast, Tier 2 vehicles support pure electric throttle driving, with no license or plate requirements and a maximum speed of 32km/h, perfectly matching the travel needs of students, delivery workers and low-income groups, occupying the largest market share in Brazil's light electric vehicle sector.
To achieve stable and compliant exports, Chinese manufacturers are recommended to develop exclusive Tier 2 customized models with the following optimized configurations: 48V battery system, 500-750W locked rated power with strictly controlled peak power, factory-locked 30-32km/h speed limit without reserved unlocking channels, vehicle width controlled at 65-68cm and wheelbase at about 125cm to avoid upper-limit risks. In terms of appearance, products should be designed close to lightweight personal mobility equipment rather than scaled-down motorcycles to adapt to local law enforcement judgment standards.
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