Engines, energy, and the future of decarbonization: how MWM Motores e Geradores sees the new era of propulsion in Brazil and worldwide

SPECIAL INTERVIEW | ENERGYCHANNEL

By Ricardo Honório

Amid one of the most significant transformations in the history of the energy and mobility industries, the engine and propulsion systems sector is going through a decisive moment where efficiency, sustainability, and economic viability must coexist.

In this special EnergyChannel interview, we spoke with Cristian Malevic, Vice President of the Energy & Decarbonization Business Unit at MWM Motores e Geradores, a company within the Tupy group, to understand how the company is positioning itself in the face of the energy transition and which technological pathways are expected to shape the future of mobility and power generation.

An industry in transformation and a Brazil with strategic advantage

According to Cristian Malevic, the sector is undergoing a structural shift driven by the global need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy efficiency.

However, contrary to a linear perspective, the future will not be defined by a single technological solution.

“The supply of solutions will occur through multiple technological pathways, with efficiency maximization connected to the regionalization of energy sources and fuels.”

In this context, Brazil stands out as one of the countries with the greatest competitive potential. The availability of biofuels such as ethanol, biodiesel, and biomethane—positions the country in a privileged place to build a more pragmatic and reality-adapted energy transition.

Applied technology: efficiency, fuel, and viability

Within the Energy & Decarbonization unit, MWM is focusing its investments on solutions capable of reducing diesel dependency without compromising performance or operational costs.

Among the main technological fronts are:

• natural gas and biomethane engines for power generation

• applications in cargo and passenger transport

• ethanol-based solutions for agricultural machinery

The focus, according to Malevic, is clear: to develop technological alternatives that are, at the same time, sustainable, efficient, and economically viable.

This approach reflects a practical vision of the energy transition—less driven by discourse and more grounded in the operational reality of customers.

Energy transition: complementarity, not substitution

For high energy-demand applications such as heavy-duty commercial vehicles and industrial equipment the transition will not be immediate.

MWM expects a gradual process, in which diesel will continue to play a relevant role for a long time.

In this scenario, different technologies will coexist:

• biofuels

• electrification

• hybrid solutions

“It will not be a transition based on a single technology, but rather on complementary solutions adapted to the characteristics of each application and region.”

Among these alternatives, biomethane emerges as one of the most promising bets for Brazil.

The combination of biomass availability, existing gas infrastructure, and emissions reduction potential positions this fuel as strategic especially in segments such as urban transport, agribusiness logistics, and protein production chains.

Structural challenges: infrastructure and scale

Despite technological advances, the main challenge of decarbonization goes beyond engines.

The equation involves three fundamental pillars:

• emissions reduction

• productivity

• economic competitiveness

For this equation to work, it will be essential to expand the availability of renewable fuels and develop infrastructure capable of supporting large-scale adoption.

In this sense, the advancement of the biomethane chain and other biofuels appears as a decisive factor to accelerate Brazil’s energy transition.

Engineering connected to the market: applied innovation

One of MWM’s strategic differentiators lies in how the company develops its solutions.

Innovation does not emerge in isolation within laboratories it is built through close relationships with customers and real market demands.

With one of the largest engine development centers in Latin America, the company operates with integrated engineering, capable of adapting technologies for different applications:

• transportation

• agribusiness

• power generation

• industrial machinery

This model allows the company to deliver solutions aligned not only with environmental goals but also with the operational and economic challenges faced by its clients.

In this context, MWM’s role goes beyond engine manufacturing it becomes a technological partner in the decarbonization journey.

EnergyChannel Conclusion

The vision presented by Cristian Malevic reinforces a central message for the future of energy and mobility: the energy transition will be diverse, regionalized, and based on complementary solutions.

In Brazil’s case, the leading role of biofuels especially biomethane may redefine the country’s position on the global stage.

More than replacing technologies, the challenge will be to integrate efficiency, sustainability, and economic viability at scale.

And along this path, companies like MWM demonstrate that relevant innovation is not only the one that anticipates the future but the one that actually makes it viable.

Engines, energy, and the future of decarbonization: how MWM Motores e Geradores sees the new era of propulsion in Brazil and worldwide