Belo Horizonte Bus Terminal Becomes Accessible to App Drivers Thanks to New Charging Station

The Tietê Bus Terminal, located in São Paulo, has implemented an area dedicated exclusively to passengers arriving by bus who use the Uber service to continue their journey. This new pickup point is located on Floor G2 of the Garage Building.

To ensure ease of use, the terminal has been equipped with specific signage that guides users from the arrival platforms to the designated meeting spot for Uber. Passengers must follow the 'Uber' directional signs after disembarking from the bus and proceed to the Garage Building.

In this space, drivers must wait for the passenger at the indicated point after the request is made via the application. It is important to note that this area is solely for pickup and does not operate as a regular parking lot. Access is regulated by a gate, requiring the professional to retrieve a printed ticket.

Free stay is granted for a period of up to fifteen minutes; if the time is exceeded, a fee of R$ 27 will be charged for using the parking lot.

Partnerships and Management

This new operation is the result of a collaboration between Uber and INDIGO, which manages the Garage Building. INDIGO also provides personnel on site to assist and guide drivers. Additionally, the new Uber Space integrates a partnership between the platform and Socicam, responsible for the administration of the Tietê bus terminals and other bus stations spread across ten Brazilian states.

Similar models have been operational at the Rio de Janeiro Bus Station since 2024, where the space is located on floor G1 of the parking lot and serves passenger pickup. In Salvador, a similar concept area was inaugurated in July of this year, although the Bahian space is not restricted to Uber, also receiving passengers from other applications, such as 99.

Maruti Suzuki is preparing to introduce a new electric vehicle that could be a three-row MPV. Recently, the company has repeatedly tested this future seven-seater MPV, which has been given the code name YMC. The car's design can be preliminarily assessed from spy shots.

This vehicle will feature a boxy design and a long wheelbase, potentially reaching a length of 4.5 meters. Many components of this upcoming electric MPV may resemble elements of the e-Vitara. It is worth examining the features of this vehicle.

This could become the second electric model from Maruti Suzuki after the e-Vitara. The company might launch this vehicle targeting buyers who prefer family cars. The test prototype shows a high roofline, acceptable glazing area, and a rounded rear section. The rear is equipped with vertical taillights, and the front has a closed radiator grille.

In Maruti Suzuki, the YMC should share many similarities with the e-Vitara. The vehicle may be equipped with batteries of 49 kWh or 61 kWh capacity. When using the larger battery, the car is capable of claiming a range exceeding 500 kilometers. It will be built on the Heartec EV platform and support fast DC charging.

Regarding charging costs, for a vehicle with a 61 kWh battery charged at home, the expenses will range from 500 to 700 rupees. Charging at a public AC charging station will cost more, over 800 rupees, while using a DC charger may require around 1500 rupees.

This car might compete with the Toyota Ativa, similar to how Toyota released the Urban Cruiser Hyryder under a different name for the e-Vitara. Maruti Suzuki might also release the YMC under a different name. Production of this future electric seven-seater model will take place at the Maruti Suzuki plant in Gujarat. Furthermore, Maruti Suzuki may export this vehicle, allowing it to appear on the global market. The electric MPV could appear next year. Its direct competitor will be the Kia Carens Clariv EV, and Maruti might launch it at a lower price than the Carens Clariv.

Maruti holds strong positions in the MPV market, especially thanks to the Ertiga, which accounts for about half of the MPV market. The company sells the Ertiga and XL6 MPVs in petrol and CNG variants. The introduction of an electric MPV will fill a gap where consumers need electric vehicles.