Mobility is undergoing rapid changes, and electromobility is gaining momentum. In this context, we invited the creator of Argentina's first electric car to discuss the challenges of sustainable mobility.
Today, the most manufactured car in the world is a Tesla Model Ysurpassing the Toyota Corolla, which had long led the market. The growth of electric mobility is exponential. China leads the way, followed by Europe and North America.
Understanding that electromobility is the most viable solution at this time, Tito emerges, an electric car produced 100% in Argentina. Juan Manuel Baretto, partner at Coradir, the first Argentine SME to locally produce an electric vehicle, spoke with us within the framework of the Master's Degree in Mobility and Automotive Management taught by the Faculty of Engineering.
Coradir It's a national SME based in San Luis that provides solutions in IT, consumer electronics, solar panels, and civil works. Recently, they recognized the need to shift towards electromobility. In 2021, they envisioned creating the first electric car produced in the country, and today They lead electric car sales in Argentina for the second year in a row. The production and assembly of Tito, as the local model was nicknamed, is done 100% in Argentina y It is a small-scale, manual assembly process.
"What makes electromobility a viable technology today is the development and advancement of lithium batteries," shares Juan Manuel Baretto, partner at Coradir.
The technology used for electric car batteries is lithium iron phosphate. because they have greater fire safety. Although they are heavier, they make the car a much safer vehicle.
“Charging infrastructure for electromobility is a global challenge, which is why, as Argentine engineers, we ask ourselves what to do.”Juan Manuel reflects. Faced with this problem, Coradir made the decision to integrate the chargers into the vehicles so that they can be charged at any plug in the Argentine electrical grid. This allows the driver to get home and charge their car at any outlet without needing to purchase an additional charger. “Tito’s energy consumption is less than that of a space heater and it accepts partial charges without affecting the battery,” adds its creator.
The car is designed for city driving, with a top speed of 60 km/h. Although it can be driven throughout the country, its design is geared towards urban use.. Data from the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires shows that a person travels between 22 and 24 kilometers daily at an average speed of 37 km/h. Based on these statistics, Coradir understood that the car the market needed was a city car. This is how they created Tito in 2021, achieving more than 200 vehicles sold in the pre-sale stage. The new concept of electromobility had an immediate impact on the Argentinian market. Currently, more than 60% of purchases are made electronically. company website.
Tito isn't just a solution for those with a greater awareness of environmental issues: driving an electric Tito is 10 times cheaper than driving a traditional combustion engine car. They are quiet and eco-friendly, so city life is starting to improve by reducing air and noise pollution.
The car also features CONTACTITO, an app that provides real-time vehicle information, such as battery charge level, parking location, and technical data. Additionally, they offer CONTACTITO PLUS, an anti-theft feature with location history, including date and time. This is connected to technical support, enabling better after-sales service.
Tito's success shows us that the automotive industry is in the midst of a transformation: digitalization, electrification, sustainability, are some of the horizons towards which we are heading.
“Sustainable mobility is not only a technological challenge, but also a social responsibility. Manufacturing an electric car in Argentina showed us that change is possible, but it requires professionals with a holistic perspective: with technical knowledge, environmental commitment, and the ability to innovate in the face of complex contexts.” shares Juan Manuel.
Furthermore, he adds: “Training people in this field is vital to ensure that the transition to cleaner, more accessible and efficient mobility becomes a sustainable reality over time.”
Leading the Automotive Revolution requires well-prepared professionals with up-to-date knowledge, a comprehensive understanding of the business, and an entrepreneurial mindset. In this context, The Faculty of Engineering launches the Master's Degree in Mobility and Automotive Management, with the aim of providing a direct response to these new demands. It is a comprehensive, up-to-date, 100% online proposal designed for professionals throughout Latin America who want to lead with impact, adapt to change, and design the future of mobility.
If you are interested in purchasing cutting-edge technical knowledge y strategic management tools to become a role model With a global vision, we look forward to seeing you at the next Master's program information session where we will talk with Carlos Pettinaroli, CEO of Grupo Ferraris and co-director of the Master's program. Sign up for the informative meeting.
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