With two
agencies in Quito and Guayaquil, Opel has entered the Ecuador market this month
as part of the expansion plan that the German brand has in Latin America.
Opel's
landing is carried out by the Nexumcorp corporation, a group that obtained
representation for Ecuadorian territory and which it had been seeking since
2019. This firm also represents other brands, such as Peugeot and Changan.
The company
has made an initial investment of around $ 3 million to start the
commercialization of vehicles. Until 2023, the firm's plan is to have six
agencies, according to Marcelo Gárate, manager of dealerships.
For this
first year of introduction, Opel plans to sell 500 units in Ecuador, a market
that after a complex year marked by the pandemic is showing signs of recovery.
Esteban
Vergara, distribution manager, says that the five-year goal is to place 3,000
units and be among the five European brands with the highest sales volume.
Opel
belonged to General Motors for decades, but was not marketed in some markets
due to the company's strategy. For this reason, some Opel models, such as the
Corsa, were sold in Ecuador under the Chevrolet brand.
The German
brand was bought by PSA in 2017, and is currently part of the Stellantis Group,
which has designed a plan to expand in Latin America.
Within this
initial plan, Opel has entered Ecuador with five models: Corsa, Crossland,
Grandland X, Combo and Vivaro. Prices range from $ 19,990 to $ 38,490.
Models are
imported from Europe. Nexumcorp hopes to take advantage of the advantages
offered by the agreement with the European Union to offer competitive prices.
Along with
the introduction in Ecuador, Opel began to compete in Colombia and Uruguay in
the first half of 2021.
Bill Mont,
Opel's director of international operations, maintains that they are working
with importing partners so that the brand can reach other markets.
"International growth is a key focus for the brand," he says.
After several years of being sheltered in
Ecuador under the distribution umbrella of General Motors (Chevrolet), Suzuki
considered that it was time to start a career independently, with its own
points of sale to further grow its participation.
The brand of Japanese origin began in the
middle of the pandemic the search for a new representative for Ecuador through
an international process. The company chosen was SZK del Ecuador, a firm whose
main shareholders are businessmen from the Casabaca group and other executives
with experience in the industry.
Suzuki was attracted by the plan proposed by
this company, which estimates to invest more than $ 20 million in the project
to introduce the brand autonomously. The commercialization of cars will start
in July; the first imports are on their way to the country.
They will begin with the sale of the S-Cross, a
model of the SUV category that was already sold at Chevrolet. And in the
remainder of the year, they will introduce another two vehicles in this
segment. Suzuki has in this category models such as the Vitara and Jimny, which
have received renovations.
The SUV segment has been gaining space in
Ecuador. In 2020, 32,793 SUVs were sold in the country, surpassing the
28,545 units in the automobile segment, according to data from the Association
of Automotive Companies of Ecuador (Aeade).
Suzuki has plants in different countries in
Asia and Europe. SUVs are made in Hungary and part of the production will be
imported from there; the rest will come from Japan, India, and Indonesia,
according to Esteban Acosta, SZK general manager of Ecuador.
Considering the current scenario and
considering that sales will begin in the second semester, the company plans to
place some 1,500 units in the remainder of 2021.
The executive maintains that they intend to
gradually expand Suzuki's portfolio in different segments. This brand, for
example, in Chile sells about fifteen models and is number two in sales.
“We believe that it can reach stellar sales
positions, due to the prices, since they are adapted to the consumer in the
region. In Ecuador, more than 50% of cars are sold for less than $ 20,000, and
more than 70% of SUVs are sold for less than $ 30,000 and that is where Suzuki
has its prices, ”says Acosta.
The idea of the new representative of The Japanese brand is to take advantage of the recognition that the brand already
has in Ecuador to consolidate greater participation. And they will seek that
with a greater presence in key cities for the automotive business.
SZK del Ecuador carried out a study that took
about six weeks and determined that the brand was in position 8 among the 10
most recognized among consumers. Sebastián Becerra, head of marketing,
maintains that this gives them a positive outlook because the Ecuadorian identifies
the brand.
The company plans to own 60% of the dealer
network in cities such as Quito and Guayaquil. The remainder will be
established through partners in provinces that have points of sale in Ambato,
Ibarra, Latacunga, Cuenca. Points will be identified as SZK Store.
“We are going to start with 11 points of sale,
of which 6 will be owned by SZK del Ecuador,” says Acosta.
The amount of 120 sources of employment will
generate the income of Suzuki to Ecuador autonomously.
What will happen to the aftermarket?
Customers who own Suzuki vehicles that were
previously purchased have a warranty and after-sales services.
Los ecuatorianos ya cuentan con
un prototipo de vacuna contra el COVID-19. Se diseñó en la ESPOL y
se prevé que en los próximos meses empiece su fase de pruebas
preclínicas en colaboración con el Instituto Nacional de Investigación
en Salud Pública (INSPI) y la Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas (ESPE).
Washington Cárdenas ─jefe del
Laboratorio para Investigaciones Biomédicas de la Facultad de Ciencias de la
Vida (ESPOL)─ explica que este trabajo empezó en marzo del 2020,
cuando se presentó el proyecto de creación del prototipo de vacuna a la
Corporación Ecuatoriana para el Desarrollo de la Investigación y la Academia
(CEDIA).
Esta institución confió en la
iniciativa politécnica y otorgó un financiamiento de 20.000 dólares al
proyecto.
Con estos recursos, los investigadores
de la ESPOL comenzaron el trabajo:
Analizaron la
secuencia genética del virus causante del COVID-19,
Enviaron a
sintetizar un fragmento del virus en el extranjero,
Crearon una
plataforma genética para el fragmento sintetizado del virus,
Una vez
clonado el fragmento viral en la plataforma genética, este se introdujo en
cultivo celular para producir la proteína codificada. La proteína se
cosechó del medio de cultivo y se está purificando para los ensayos
preclínicos.
Este proceso fue diseñado por el profesor
e investigador de la ESPOL Washington B. Cárdenas, quien tiene un doctorado en
Biología Evolutiva y un Postdoctorado en Virología Molecular.
Él elaboró el procedimiento a seguir a
nivel genético, desde la determinación del fragmento del virus que se debía
sintetizar, la creación de la matriz para el fragmento sintetizado e, incluso,
introdujo instrucciones genéticas a esta matriz para la correcta producción de
la proteína viral.
Cárdenas explica que esto ha
sido posible gracias a los recursos económicos otorgados por
CEDIA, al personal altamente entrenado del Laboratorio
para Investigaciones Biomédicas de la ESPOL y a la tecnología para
manipular virus a nivel genético con la que cuenta este laboratorio
politécnico, que por sus características es único en el país.
¿Qué sigue?
Actualmente, los investigadores de ESPOL están optimizando el proceso de producciónde la proteína viral. Es decir, buscan la
manera de conseguir más proteína, insumo necesario para ser inyectado en las
pruebas que es necesario realizar con roedores.
Se prevé que estas pruebas se inicien en los próximos
meses, con la ayuda de colaboradores del INSPI, y de la ESPE.
Washington B. Cárdenas prevé que, trabajando con el
presupuesto actual, a mediados
del año 2022 la vacuna esté lista para producción.
¿Por qué es importante este
proyecto?
Es posible que para la
fecha en que este prototipo de vacuna esté listo para su producción, en el país
si se han tomado las medidas necesarias, buena parte de la población nacional
ya haya sido inmunizada por dosis traídas del extranjero.
“Pero hay que pensar mucho más allá”, dice el jefe del
Laboratorio para investigaciones Biomédicas de la ESPOL, quien reflexiona: “Pero, ¿y qué haremos en la próxima pandemia?, la cuestión es
estar preparados y este prototipo nos lo permite”.
“La importancia de este trabajo radica en que, con
nuestro prototipo, estamos
creando una plataforma modular que no solo servirá para la actual pandemia.
En el futuro se podría cambiar la secuencia genética de SARS-CoV-2 y poner otra
de cualquier virus del que nos interese obtener una vacuna”, puntualiza.
Más apoyo financiero
Este proyecto arrancó
con recursos económicos otorgados por CEDIA y con fondos de la ESPOL. Sin
embargo, debido a la naturaleza de los insumos necesarios para este tipo de
trabajo, las necesidades de financiamiento son actualmente atendidas con
autogestión del Laboratorio para Investigaciones Biomédicas.
Más prototipos de vacunas
Además del prototipo
inicial de vacuna, el equipo de investigadores politécnico ha diseñado cuatro
modelos adicionales. Dos de ellos ya empezaron a ser trabajados en el
laboratorio.
Pruebas PCR gratuitas durante la
pandemia
Desde marzo 2020 hasta
la fecha actual, la ESPOL ha realizado cerca de 20.000 pruebas PCR para
diagnosticar COVID-19, muchas de las
cuáles se hicieron gratuitamente en sectores urbano-marginales de Guayaquil,
gracias al apoyo de la Fundación CRISFE.
Actualmente, en el marco de un Convenio
Interinstitucional entre la Junta de Beneficencia de Guayaquil y la ESPOL, el
laboratorio aplica gratuitamente un número de estas pruebas a pacientes
oncológicos del Hospital de Niños Roberto Gilbert E.
A charger for the taxis purchased at this location was installed at the Korean brand KIA dealer. Photos: Xavier Caivingua for EL COMERCIO.
In the next few days, the Eco Taxi cooperative will begin its services in the city of Loja (south of Ecuador), with 30 units, the first to offer transportation services with fully electric vehicles in Ecuador. "It is a vehicle that does not produce pollution, zero emission ... it has very low or almost no vibration level ... and uses clean energy," said BYD Ecuador representative, Virgilio Benavides, company that supplies the cars, in declarations collected by Ecuadorian news media.
He added that each unit has an autonomy of "300 kilometers, that means that a taxi driver can travel all day without stopping working normally" and can reach a speed of 130 kilometers per hour.
Each of the 30 units that, according to local media, form "the second largest electric taxi fleet in South America, after Bogota", has a cost of around USD 35. 000.
The Eco Taxi cooperative is an idea driven by 30 Ecuadorians returned after living abroad. "We are grateful and consistent with each entity, so that the dream of a group of migrants in search of a source of work becomes a reality," said the manager of the cooperative, Ricardo Costa.
The enchanted Galapagos Islands located in Ecuador South America is the refugee of the world`s giant tortoises and for joy of the world a new species has been discovered.
The beginnings:
In 1993, Washington Tapia, along with other guards, conducting routine monitoring by the eastern forest of Santa Cruz Island. Suddenly he looked at a white object between dry bushes, was a skull ... Surprised, he picked up this unusual finding no suspect in his hands was a piece that, after 22 years, would be the reference of a new species of giant Galapagos tortoise .
On Wednesday the existence of the Chelonoidis donfaustoi, a kind of tortoise that adds to the 14 described so far and four of which are extinct. Was confirmed Nine years after Tapia found that skull, researchers and Tom Fritz Cruz Marquez, the Charles Darwin Foundation , is worried by a morphological difference in the shell of the giant tortoises that lived in eastern Santa Cruz, near the Cerro Fatal. Both they repaired in the rear and front ends of the shell of these turtles ended more vertically, compared to the sharp bend in the individuals present on the western side, in the Chelonoidis porteri. Which up to then-the only species that had colonized the island believed. For over a decade, Tapia and 10 other national and foreign researchers made genetic studies, led by Dr. Adalgisca Caccone. They analyzed the differences between the DNA being studied turtles and other species known. The research was sponsored by Yale University (USA) and was supported by the Ministry of Environment (MAE) through Galapagos National Park (PNG). The field work was not easy. For six months a year, the arid land of Cerro fatal absorbs not even a drop of water, but these scientists walked 5-10 km under the intense sun of every day.
Among the thorny bushes possible individuals seeking a new species. Tapia, biologist now has that carried five gallons of water, tents, food and clothes for the 20 day expedition. As luck harboring them, they were taking specimens and blood samples sent to laboratories to analyze the mitochondrial DNA. In 2005, the thrill seized scientists: they obtained the preliminary results suggesting the presence of two different species on Santa Cruz Island. To deepen, we also analyzed the nuclear DNA.After eight years, a new species and the past, with complete data Wednesday, the description of the Chelonoidis donfaustoi became public was confirmed. The name honors Fausto Llerena , who dedicated 43 years of his life to the conservation of turtles and was the caretaker of the legendary Lonesome George . The genetic results suggest that the new species is more akin to the San Cristòbal giant tortoise and 400.000 years ago their ancestors migrated to Santa Cruz, said Tapia. This discovery poses challenges for future monitoring to calculate the actual size population Chelonoidis donfaustoi which for now is estimated at between 250 and 300 individuals, that identifies potential risks to their survival.
Being a relatively small population -said Jorge Carrion, director of environmental management PNG- should be treated differently and priority. Danny Rueda, director of the PNG ecosystems, says that between 20 and 25 rangers specialists in handling turtles are the guardians of this new species. So that skull, in 1993, was considered another of the Museum of Vertebrates PNG is now the benchmark part of a new charm from the Galapagos.
Toyota Coms. Ese vehículo es para un máximo de dos pasajeros. Su autonomía es de 50 kilómetros. La velocidad máxima que alcanza es 60 km/h y se carga en 6 horas. Foto: Julio Estrella / EL COMERCIO
At least six automotive brands keep models of electric vehicles on display or in testing stage, in the country. However, the marketing of cars is waiting for the installation of infrastructure such as charging stations (points of battery power charging) as well as increased incentives to potential buyers. In Ecuador, the brands involved in this segment are: Nissan, Renault, Toyota, Green Wheel, Kia and Byd. Early last month, the National Public Procurement (Sercop) presented the catalog of electric cars to the public sector entities to acquire these vehicles. These cars also be exempt from tariffs, are free of quotas.
Renault Twizy. Este vehículo es para un máximo de dos personas. Su autonomía es de 100 kilómetros. Su carga demora 3,5 horas y la velocidad máxima es de 80 km/h. Foto: María Isabel Valarezo / EL COMERCIO
Diego Andrade, national director of Nissan, indicates that this brand leads the sale of electric vehicles worldwide. So Nissan brought to the country the Leaf model that can travel 160 kilometers without requiring a new load. The cost of this model range between USD 40 000 and 45 000. Andrade indicates that besides the strong momentum that the Government seeks incentive tariffs and other definitions as the possibility of a subsidy, which do not apply the expected peak and plate , preferential enrollment rates plus parking spaces and mobility with more advantages than other vehicles. It should also analyze a strengthening of electricity networks to allow multiple users to simultaneously charge the battery in addition to the implementation of charging stations for semifast load (one to two hours) or fast (in 30 minutes).
Nissan Leaf. Tiene una autonomía de 160 kilómetros. Se carga en 13 horas a 110V. La máxima velocidad alcanzada es de 153 kilómetros por hora. Es para 5 pasajeros. Foto: Eduardo Terán / EL COMERCIO
This is because, for example, a vehicle such as Leaf needs 13 hours to charge at a voltage of 110 volts (V) and three hours at 220 V. Therefore, evaluation is still in the pattern before being marketed so that wait until 2016 for that.
Another brand that is already in the country models of electric vehicles is the Renault Twizy has the car (for two people) and Kangoo (a van that can be adapted to transfer passengers). Luis De los Reyes, national director of Renault, said that there is great opportunity for the political decision of the government to support this technology. Indicates that the model Twizy price is USD 17 000 while the Kangoo reaches USD 35 000.
Any customer's can acquire, but has not yet made a massive advertising campaign because government incentives are expected and that the company has more familiarity with the technology.
Green Wheel. Es un vehículo chino que tiene una autonomía de hasta 45 kilómetros para cuatro pasajeros. Se carga en 6 horas a 110V. Su velocidad máxima es de 60 km/h. Foto: Armando Prado / EL COMERCIO
Another dealer to have models of electric cars is Ambacar, company that sells Chinese cars. Jaime Guarderas, representative of the firm, explains that two years ago two models of the brand Green Wheel of China were imported to test These vehicles are being tested at the Technology Transfer Center for Training and Research on Vehicle Emissions Control (Ccice) National Polytechnic.
After this process, Guarderas explains that it can examine whether imported or assembled in the country in about two years. Gerardo Velasco, adviser of the brand, points out that this vehicle would pay around USD 0.80 energy, for a distance of 40 kilometers. That is, some USD 5.6 USD weekly versus about $8.4 for the same distance in a similar vehicle with extra gas.
Ccice director, Angel Portilla, indicates that so far in the center where vehicles approvals for import and sale becomes, no model has entered the process except Green Wheel. Another brand that has imported another car is Toyota who are testing the model Coms.
Luis Baca, commercial director of the mark indicates that delayed its introduction because it must create a import numered section and strengthened networks for charging.
Two other brands announced the marketing of electric models were Kia and Byd but did not respond to inquiries from El Comercio newspaper.
El Servicio Nacional de Contratación Pública entregó el primer auto eléctrico al Ministerio de Electricidad para que haga la verificación de su funcionamiento y así puedan ser adquiridos por el sistema público. El presidente de la República estuvo presente en el acto y manifestó que el precio aún es elevado y que se debe de reducir costos e incentivar a la fabricación nacional.
Este vehículo eléctrico tiene capacidad para recorrer 300 kilómetros de distancia, con 60 kilovatios de carga y fue entregado al Ministerio de Electricidad y Energía Renovable. El fin es que con este modelo se realicen pruebas para que en un futuro puedan ser adquiridos por entidades estatales, como explicó Santiago Vásquez Cazar, director del Servicio Nacional de Contratación Pública.
“Damos un paso hacia adelante para utilizar energía limpia. Reducir las partículas de monóxido de carbono. Así marcamos un modelo para el transporte sustentable para el Ecuador”.
Con ese propósito ya está a disposición el catálogo con 4 vehículos que podrían ser adquiridos por el sector público. Sus costos van desde 11 mil dólares hasta 51 mil dólares. El ministro de Energía Renovable, Esteban Albornoz, indicó que entre los beneficios está que no pagan impuestos y tiene bajo costo de energía para cargarlos.
En la presentación del vehículo también estuvo el presidente Correa, a quien se le explicó sobre las características y beneficios, sin embargo, el primer mandatario cuestionó el precio de los ejemplares.
“A mi me parece que 50 mil dólares para un carro así es un poco caro. Pero ese es el costo inicial, luego el costo de mantenimiento, lo que ahorra en combustible, más el hecho de que no contamine, más que compensa el costo inicial. Sin embargo, vamos a tratar de que se reduzca el costo inicial y también de que se produzcan nacionalmente”, dijo Correa.
Para el consumo nacional aún no se precisa la fecha en que los autos eléctricos estén disponibles en el mercado.
A stingray about 1000 kilos of weight was captured by fishermen in the cove La Cruz, in the Peruvian Tumbes region bordering Ecuador, local media reported today.
A tourist took a picture of the huge stingray, last April 18, when it was transferred by crane by fishermen, and immediately was shared in social networks and Peruvian media.
Attorney Crime Prevention of Tumbes, Felix Quinde Feijoo, today asked the representatives of Instituto del Mar del Peru (IMARPE) to inform him of the fact, since it is a little known species off the coast of Peru.
Ecuadorian girl Dayana Peralta Loor won the Miss Teen Universe 2015 pageant .
Under the direction of Marcelo Ulloa and William Silva, she cuativated with her beauty and intelligence to the jury in the pageant where the representatives from USA, Paraguay, Coco`s Island and Mèxico were finalists.
Dayana was born in Guayaquil , Ecuador in October 31 , 1999 and she belongs to the tropical music group Kandela &Son. Her high school studies continues at the Unidad Educativa Cenest Harvard.
The pageant was hold in Guatemala, this last Friday February 6, 2015.
After the following pic you can watch two videos, the first one where she answered the question: "What will be your advcie to women that are not so beautiful as you? and the second one the final pageant election.
Ana Proaño National Telecommunications Secretary and Augusto Espin, Telecommunications Minister, talk about the 4G network concession to Movistar and Claro.
Ana Proaño, secretaria Nacional de Telecomunicaciones y Augusto Espín, ministro de Telecomunicaciones, hablan sobre la concesión a Movistar y Claro para la red 4G. Foto: Jenny Navarro / EL COMERCIO
The Ecuadorian government and private Claro and Movistar phone carriers, materialized the concession of the spectrum for 4G and 3G expansion, as reported today, Monday February 2, 2015, by the Telecommunications Minister Augusto Espín, at a press conference .
The National Telecommunications Council (Conatel) was the entity that approved the negotiation of additional spectrum, this afternoon. As a result, the Ecuadorian State will receive USD 330 million 180 correspond to Claro for 60 megahertz (MHz) and 150 to Movistar for 50 MHz .
The spectrum is allocated in the bands of 1900 and 1700 and the lease time is up to 2023.
"The value is USD 3 million per MHz per year."
"The value is favorable to the state (...) is an important value in the region compared to slightly more than double that claimed in other countries," said the Minister. Espín
Claro has a higher amount of allocated spectrum due to the larger number of users concentrated in the country.
On the expansion of import quotas for cell phones, something that was included in the negotiation, Espín said to it is to be discussed at the Committee of Foreign Trade (Comex).
The Minister said between this and next week the agendas for to sign the contracts will be ready and and after sign, spectrum is delivered".
One of the commitments the telephones companies made, is they have to cover nearly 1000 kilometers of roads throughout the country with wireless voice and data. "This assignment will improve the service (cell phone) immediately," said Espin.
