ABIMOTA and AM2R bolster Portugal’s presence at IAA Mobility 2025
ABIMOTA and the AM2R project are jointly present at IAA Mobility in Munich, with the aim of promoting competitiveness, sustainability and mobility technologies being developed in Portugal.
ABIMOTA – National Association of Two‑Wheel Industries, Hardware, Furniture and Complementary Activities of the Represented Sectors – is leading a comprehensive reconversion process of the Portuguese two‑wheel and soft‑mobility sector, and within this framework the AM2R project is a fundamental tool.
The Portuguese two‑wheel and soft‑mobility sector is currently undergoing a revolution, transitioning from OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) to ODM (Original Design Manufacturer). This represents a profound strategic shift in how national companies position themselves within the global value chain.
Meaning of the acronyms
- OEM: production is carried out according to external client specifications. The company manufactures the product but does not own the design or the brand.
- ODM: the company designs, develops and manufactures the product, offering it as a ready‑to‑sell solution for international customers.
Reasons for the transition
- Increased industrial autonomy – Portuguese companies move from being technical executors to controlling design, innovation and intellectual property.
- Enhancement of the national brand – adopting the ODM philosophy allows products to be sold under a own brand or with greater branding influence, reinforcing “Made in Portugal”.
- Response to the European market – growing demand for sustainable, customisable products with European design.
These are three of the reasons that have driven the need for ODM solutions.
Institutional support
The AM2R project promotes applied research, prototype development and production digitalisation, creating conditions for a technological leap. Practical examples include companies that previously produced OEM bicycle frames for foreign brands and have now developed their own e‑bikes, cargo bikes and urban scooters with national design and engineering. ABIMOTA, as an aggregating entity, has fostered partnerships between industry and universities, accelerating innovation capacity and technical certification. Participation in IAA Mobility – an event fully dedicated to mobility – enables the showcase of this transformation process that the Portuguese soft‑mobility ecosystem is experiencing.
Words of Gil Nadais, Secretary‑General of ABIMOTA
“The presence of ABIMOTA and the AM2R project at IAA Mobility represents a strategic milestone for the Portuguese two‑wheel industry. This sector has moved from being merely an OEM manufacturer to establishing itself as a creator of complete solutions with its own design, engineering and innovation.”
“During this edition we carried out dozens of contacts with international companies, logistics operators, smart cities and investors. So far, these have been days of intense activity, where it became clear that Portugal is prepared to lead soft mobility in Europe.”
“Our mission here is twofold: to demonstrate what we already do with excellence and to pave the way for new partnerships that reinforce national productive autonomy. The future of mobility lies in sustainable, intelligent and integrated solutions, and Portugal is at the forefront.”
About AM2R
AM2R – Mobilising Agenda for Business Innovation in the Two‑Wheel Sector – is funded by PRR/Next Generation EU. It is a consortium involving 47 companies and institutions, including the lead partner Polisport, and has already up‑skilled more than half of them with Industry 4.0 technologies. Execution stands at approximately 63 percent.
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