Photo: Reproduction.
In 2024, we will begin national production of at least two new brands: BYD and GWM. Only the second one dropped the hammer on the first car that will be built in Brazil, which will be the Haval H6.
Cars have been made in Brazil since 1918, when the first Ford Model T. These first cars were only assembled here, they came in CKD kits and with a very low level of local components.
Truly national production began in the 1950s, thanks to incentives from President Juscelino Kubitschek. This first phase of Brazilian industry established the brands that we consider traditional today, such as General Motors, Ford, Volkswagen and, later, Fiat.
Some smaller ones, such as Willys-Overland, DKW-Vemag and Chrysler were absorbed by the larger ones. The reopening of imports marked a second growth in the Brazilian industry, with more brands establishing themselves here from the end of the 90s.
Here we will remember the first cars from some brands that arrived in this second phase. These are more recent stories, but they paved the way for the scenario we see in Brazil today.
1. Honda Civic
After Fiat’s arrival in Brazil in 1976, no other new automaker took root here. The opening of imports brought buzz about new brands opening factories, but Honda was the one who set up shop first.
The Japanese company made the decision at the end of 1995, announcing that Brazil would be the center of its operations in Latin America. The Sumaré (SP) factory opened in 1997 with the production of the Civic.
They even considered the medium-large Accord as the first national car. The nationalization rate was low, just 47%. Mechanical components such as the engine, gearbox and suspension were imported.
This index increased over time. Today, Honda produces most of the components locally, including the 1.5 and 1.5 turbo engines used in the current range. It has already announced that in the coming years it will have flex hybrid packages in national cars and will increase volume with the arrival of the entry-level SUV WR-V.
2. Renault Scenic
Brazil has had Renault cars in the past. The Deauphine and Gordini duo made by Willys-Overland were from the French brand. The Ford Corcel too, was supposed to be a Willys compact on the Renault 12 platform, but changed brands when Ford bought its rival in the 60s.
Renault was officially imported in the 90s by the CAOA group, which achieved great success to the point of being the best-selling imported brand in 1994. The following year the parent company announced that it would build a factory in Brazil.
After many fights over incentives, Renault decided to set up shop in Paraná. It was the first automobile factory in the southern region of Brazil, which only produced trucks and buses.
Renault’s first car in Brazil was the Scenic minivan. It began production in October 1998, without having direct competitors until 2001. The factory grew in volume with the arrival of the popular Clio in 1999.
Today Renault is in a new phase. The Kardian SUV debuted a modular and modern platform that will be the basis for future launches, a 1.0 turbo engine and a dual-clutch transmission. The brand will have national hybrids with this set and promises to change the image of making simple cars by bringing more sophisticated models.
3. Citroën Xsara Picasso
Citroën was another French company that began production in Brazil with a minivan, the Xsara Picasso. The factory in Porto Real (RJ) was opened in February 2001.
This plant belonged to PSA, a group that housed Peugeot and Citroën. Like compatriot Renault, production began with a smaller volume mid-size car, but there was room to grow.
This increase in production volume came with the Peugeot 208. Currently, these brands belong to Stellantis, which reorganized operations by placing the Porto Real plant to make only Citroën cars.
4. Nissan Frontier
Nissan took advantage of the alliance with Renault to debut safely in Brazil. The French company announced an expansion of its factory in 2000, creating a second unit where commercial vehicles would be made.
This unit was used by Nissan, which began producing in Brazil with the Frontier in 2002. This medium-sized truck arrived with a high nationalization rate, 62%, thanks to the adoption of the national MWM Sprint 2.8 turbodiesel engine — the same one used by the Chevrolet S10.
The robustness of the Japanese-designed chassis with this well-known engine made for a successful formula. The Frontier has been marked for being reliable. It also had standard equipment such as ABS brakes, double airbags and a locking rear differential.
In 2003 the single cabin version came to expand the range of offerings and later came the X-Terra SUV. Nissan’s first passenger car made in Brazil was the Livina minivan, also produced at the Renault plant.
Nissan only had its own factory years later, in 2014, with the Resende (RJ) unit. Today the Kicks SUV is made there, with the promise of a new generation coming national in the coming years made alongside the current one.
5.BMW 328i
Brazilian car factories have always focused more on compact and medium-sized high-volume cars or utility vehicles. Luxury cars were exceptions, but they were always present.
Willys Itamaraty, Simca Presidency, Ford Landau and Chevrolet Omega are some of them. The closest thing we had to a premium brand in Brazil before the opening of imports was Alfa Romeo.
At the end of the 90s, Volkswagen opened a modern factory in Paraná to manufacture the fourth generation Golf and the Audi A3. Despite being a premium brand, the midsize hatch was very close to traditional offerings.
Mercedes-Benz, another premium brand, also established itself in Brazil with a more mundane car, the A-Class. The first luxury brand that established itself here with a focus on producing high-standard cars from the beginning was BMW.
Its factory in Araquari (SC) was announced in October 2012. The inauguration was in 2014, in the same month, with the production of the 328i. The sedan’s 2.0 turbo engine was already flex-fuel, demonstrating a concern about adapting to Brazilian conditions.
It was accompanied on the assembly line by the X1 and other variations of the 3 Series. BMW currently also produces the X3 and X4. The 1 Series and Mini Countryman were produced in Araquari, but today they are only imported.
BMW’s national operation is responsible for the fastest and most powerful car made in Brazil, the X4 M40i with a 387 hp biturbo 6-cylinder in-line engine. The brand announced the nationalization of the plug-in hybrid X5 in 2024, which could be the most expensive car made in Brazil.
Credits: AutoPop.
