Rafael Contreras

TECHNOLOGY for daily life. Blog about a successful business history.

Sunday September 23rd, 2018
by Ivan Contreras
0 comments

From Sillicon Valley to the Award “Muévete verde” in Madrid

AF254612-809E-47D3-8D73-F32273BEB52DOne of the challenges of maintaining a blog and being the CEO of a hyperdynamic organization such as MUVING Ecosystem, is that posts accumulate in my publications pipeline. Thinking twice, that’s a good sign!

If this week we have been present in different cities of Spain and celebrating the European Mobility Week, the previous one had been the turn of European Innovation in Silicon Valley. I can tell you that with the success of the sharing service in EUROPE, and the extraordinary start of MUVING in Atlanta last June, the high expectations raised in Silicon Valley did not disappoint the attendees of this Week dedicated to the latest European technological trends. Continue Reading →

Saturday September 8th, 2018
by Ivan Contreras
0 comments

The truth of figures

With MUVING team in Atlanta

With MUVING team in Atlanta

As Rafa said a few days ago in his post about the Artificial Intelligence at MIT, from time to time CEOS and Presidents of companies have to stop to review the strategy, and what is to come. Another moment in which you stop and check if the work that is being done is well focused or not, is the revision of the figures. These are tangible. They don´t lie. Although at the strategic level it is not the only element to be taken into account, it is undoubtedly the most immediate and concrete reference to continue taking measures in one direction or another.

In the case of MUVING Ecosystem, our leadership at the Spanish and International level is corroborated by the numbers. In 2017, we were the leaders in the production of electric vehicles with almost 3,300 units. This amount will be multiplied by 7.5 in 2019 when we will manufacture 25,000 units, as I already mentioned in the most recent post about the opening of the first own store See you in Castellana 107!

Rafael and I have always had internationalization as one of the strategic axes of growth from the beginning of each of the companies we have set up. Proof of this is that Torrot already operates in 54 countries, and 80% of the production goes to countries like the United States, Germany, Mexico, France, Belgium … In this international chapter, as we have already informed lately, in addition to serve sharing operators with our electric motorcycles (case of the cities of Vienna and Graz, in Austria, with 165 units, or New York, with 68 devices), we establish our own sharing services with MUVING. This is the case of Atlanta, where for the last 4 months, 150 yellow motorcycles have served citizens in their daily mobility throughout the city.

As evident proof of the international commitment, I am writing this post from San Francisco where I have been working for two weeks now. The upcoming one,  I will be participating in the European Innovation Week in Silicon Valley. I’ll tell you more about it in the coming days. MUVING Ecosystem and the need for a sustainability in urban mobility arose from trips with Rafa through the great North American capitals a decade ago; conceptually crystallized between MIT in Boston and New York; the first explorations were made in the West Coast of the USA, Atlanta and Miami; the explosion of the model occurred in Spain and Europe; and the return trip has already begun with Atlanta and New York as first cities, and Silicon Valley on the West Coast as a continuation, among other US points. In conclusion, as the title of the post says, at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of the road, figures tell the truth of the success of the decisions. And the numbers that I have outlined in this article, show that the strategic plan is on the right track. Now it is time to continue the work so that we can offer you the truth of  figures in the following stages.

Thursday September 6th, 2018
by Ivan Contreras
0 comments

See you in Castellana 107!, the Torrot-GasGas flagship store

FOTO-TIENDA-TORROTWe have just opened the first TorrotGasGas flagship store in the neuralgic place of Madrid, Paseo de la Castellana 107 this week. They are 250 square meters where you can find corners with your favorite motorcycles and devices, from electric kids, MUVI, to Enduro and GasGas Trial , including the two-time Trial World Champion TXT-E.

For an event of such importance, we have had a high class sponsor. Our ambassador, Ricky Rubio, NBA player, in addition to wearing the Utah Jazz jersey when he is playing, he also wears the blue Torrot vest when he visits us, making us the honor of being the first visitor to the store. In his own words, Ricky told us “What Torrot has achieved in just three years for the development of sustainable mobility is impressive and I feel very connected with its commitment and its work for the reduction of polluting emissions and the creation of a model of a different city, cleaner, quieter and liveable.” Continue Reading →

Saturday September 1st, 2018
by Rafael Contreras
0 comments

Artificial Intelligence at the MIT

FOTO-RAFA-MITFor a CEO or a company President, it is important to take a space for reflection in the midst of the daily work. I have always believed and I have applied it to myself, that to stay competitive in the first position you have to be in constant movement and search. Open and exploring what is next. This decision obliges you as a person and a professional to a recycling and constant learning process.

I am currently enrolled in an Executive in Artificial Intelligence at MIT. Already in 2013-14, together with Iván, I had my first executive experience of study, reflection and contrast of our strategic premises in the center of excellence of Massachusetts. That year and a half meant the crystallization of what today, four years later, is MUVING Ecosystem. In the case that concerns me this time, my mind is focused on everything that surrounds the application of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in the business world. Continue Reading →

Thursday July 26th, 2018
by Ivan Contreras
1 Comment

World Trial Champions again

FOTO-POST-IVAN-GG-TRIAL-julio-2018We have  become World Trial Champions at GasGas once again. All fans in any country, have known the brand as an absolute reference in the world of competition, a leadership kept thanks to the continuous work of technical improvements that later are transferred to our series bikes.

On this occasion, besides being year after year at the top of the world podiums with gasoline motorcycles, the renewal of this world title obtained last weekend has a special significance. The combination of Torrot and Gasgas made us pioneers in the introduction of electric bikes in the world of competition. In this way, last year our sports and development manager of Trial Marc Colomé (4 times world champion, 18 victories and 87 podiums), was the first electric Trial World Champion, taking our first electric model to the top in this sport. Last weekend, we made it again. In this case it has been Loris Gubian, supported by Colomer, who has achieved  this victory and against the giant Yamaha, in an exciting combat of human technique and  engineering. Continue Reading →

Wednesday July 11th, 2018
by Ivan Contreras
0 comments

MUVING environmental impact: city by city, ton by ton

FOTO-MUVING-ATLANTAWe are getting data of the environmental impact that the use of the MUVING motosharing service is having in the cities after just over a year of use. In Cádiz, for example, the first city in which the service started in March 2017, 47 tons of CO2 emissions have been saved, reaching 10,000 users, of which 300 approximately use  the “yellow motorcycles” dayly.

In the case of Seville, the service started in May 2017, the number of tons of polluting particles not emitted reaches almost a hundred: 99,000 kgs. The total users amount in the Andalusian capital  goes to 26,500. In the 11 cities throughout Spain in which we have been operating over the last year, the total of CO2 emissions saved  reaches the amazing figure of 650 tons. Continue Reading →

Tuesday June 19th, 2018
by Rafael Contreras
0 comments

Entrevista en “La Linterna” de COPE

FOTO-RAFA-COPEEl 14 de junio tuve la oportunidad de ser entrevistado en el programa de radio “La Linterna” de la cadena COPE. Presentado y dirigido por Juan Pablo Colmenarejo, el equipo al completo (técnicos y tertulianos) se desplazó hasta Cádiz para realizar un programa especial desde la sede de la Confederación de Empresarios de Cádiz. Durante la conversación, pudimos hablar del origen de Carbures y su actividad, sobre movilidad sostenible con los dispositivos eléctricos, y la apertura de MUVING en Atlanta.

Mientras esperaba mi turno entre el público escuchando el programa, hubo una pausa en la que Colmenarejo explicó a los asistentes que la labor de un periodista era “ordenar el caos de la realidad para contarla y que el oyente pudiera entenderla”. Tras ser testigo de los entresijos de la radio, valoro aún más el mérito del trabajo de contar diariamente la actualidad. Gracias a Juan Pablo Colmenarejo y su equipo por ser cronistas del trabajo que realizamos desde el mundo de la empresa, y por poner de relevancia, como Javier Sánchez, el Presidente de los Empresarios dice, que existe otro Cádiz.  El compromiso, y así concluye la entrevista, es seguir creciendo y construyendo ese modelo de movilidad sostenible evitando emisiones de CO2.

Monday June 18th, 2018
by Ivan Contreras
0 comments

MUVING llega a Atlanta

FOTO-IVAN-MUVING-USADespués de un año de recorrido de MUVING en España, expandirnos por 12 de las principales ciudades, y traspasar la cifra de 115.000 usuarios que diariamente confían en nosotros para moverse, y ahorrar toneladas de emisión de CO2,  cumplimos un nuevo hito y cruzamos el charco. A partir de hoy lunes, MUVING está oficialmente activo en Atlanta.  Con una flota de 150 unidades para empezar, el servicio de sharing aterriza en esta ciudad que es un símbolo de tecnología, y donde ya estamos asentados con Skully, el casco inteligente de realidad aumentada.

El funcionamiento que tendrá el servicio en esta capital norteamericana será el mismo que en Europa. Gracias a nuestros desarrollos tecnológicos propios como la app que te sirve para reservar, pagar, y gestionar tus viajes, la expansión por las grandes ciudades puede darse fácilmente. Esto se debe a que desde el principio la solución de una movilidad sostenible y conectada, con dispositivos eléctricos, se diseñó pensando en una escalabilidad global. Continue Reading →

Wednesday June 13th, 2018
by Ivan Contreras
0 comments

Velocípedo Cargo para la última milla

Acabamos de presentar el VELOCÍPEDO CARGO en la E-Delivery Barcelona Expo-Congress. En nuestro propósito de cambiar definitivamente el modelo de movilidad en las ciudades, le damos una nueva vuelta de tuerca al ya de por sí revolucionario Velocípedo. En esta ocasión ocupamos el sector de reparto, entrega, paquetería. Mantenemos las principales características del Velocípedo para usuarios: eléctrico e interconectado. De esta manera ofrecemos una solución  sostenible a los retos que estas flotas afrontan en las ciudades.

Este dispositivo de movilidad de 3 ruedas viene equipado con sensores que le mandan información a una OBU (On Board Unit), que actúa como cerebro y concentra datos de aviso de colisión, localizacíon del vehículo, aviso de movimiento no autorizado, estado de baterías, etc. Esta monitorización  se realiza de manera remota, y está pensada específicamente para la gestión de flotas y una optimización de las rutas. Continue Reading →

Friday May 18th, 2018
by Ivan Contreras
0 comments

Los primeros Skully Fenix AR

Hay quien dice que mejor no comunicar nada hasta que todo esté amarrado y seguro. ¿Cuál es el beneficio de anunciar lo que vas a hacer y comprometerte con toda una comunidad de apasionados consumidores a los  que en el pasado no trataron bien? Lo mejor es que una vez anunciado, ya no tienes marcha atrás. Es lo que hemos hecho con lo que llamamos Skully Nation, cuando Rafael y yo nos comprometimos a levantar y resucitar  la defenestrada Skully de Silicon Valley, y hacer posible el casco más inteligente del mundo, con realidad aumentada. Esa Skully Nation está formada tanto por los clientes que abonaron una parte del precio, y jamás llegaron a recibir su casco, como por fans de la moto que están deseando tener entre sus manos y protegiendo sus cabezas un auténtico Skully Fénix AR. Ese era el compromiso desde el principio con la campaña que lanzamos: We make it right”.

Para apoyar esa confianza que miles de personas han vuelto a depositar en Skully, y compartir con todos un poco los fogones de lo que desde Atlanta estamos cocinando, comparto en este post un breve vídeo del instante en el que se reciben los primeros cascos de producción. Es un momento emocionante, ya que es el resultado de muchos meses de trabajo, y de mantener una visión hacia la que avanzar. Sacar de la caja un dispositivo como el Skully, y sostenerlo siendo consciente de que se trata de algo único tecnológicamente. El único casco con realidad aumentada, cámara trasera, y conectividad con el conductor. Formando parte ya desde su nacimiento del Ecosistema MUVING, que con la movilidad personal interconectada como eje central, está ya instalado internacionalmente y cada semana sigue creciendo. Agradezco al equipo de Atlanta, donde Skully tiene su sede, el trabajo hecho hasta ahora, y sirvan estas primeras unidades como estímulo para cumplir nuestro compromiso porque… We make it right! (¡Nosotros lo hacemos bien!).