Vice-governor of ES goes to China in search of establishing an electric car factory in the state

The vice-governor of Espírito Santo, Ricardo Ferraço, is in China with the aim of prospecting new business for the state. Ferraço is the government representative of a business mission aimed at promoting the potential of the automotive market from Espírito Santo to one of the countries that leads globally in the electric vehicle market, a trend that appears to be irreversible in the sector. The initial action of the mission, which took place this Monday (22), was a visit to the headquarters of Zhongtong Bus, an electric bus and truck manufacturer located in Liaocheng, located 450 kilometers from Beijing.

According to the State Government’s press office, the Zhongtong company has been operating in the market for 40 years and has more than four thousand workers, in addition to a production capacity of 30 thousand units per year. The company already exports to 100 countries.

“This is a strategic visit. The company has exports to Argentina, Chile and Colombia and wants a presence in Brazil. We are here to confirm that Espírito Santo is in the running to receive operations from the corporation. Electric Vehicles! We show executives the attractions and comparative advantages in our State in relation to other states in the federation to enable imports and even have an industrial base for the automaker in Espírito Santo territory”, highlights the vice-governor and Secretary of Development of Espírito Santo, Ricardo Ferraço .

“They are keeping an eye on the Brazilian market. They import lithium from Brazil, which is even exported through ports in Espírito Santo. We present the potential of the State, our efficiency, the quality of labor and human capital, geographic position, logistics and port infrastructure, incentives and the first private Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in Brazil to work on attracting this large investment , aiming to generate jobs and opportunities for the people of Espírito Santo”, adds Ricardo Ferraço.

Ferraço did not mention any city that could potentially receive investment from the Chinese company. However, given the economic, labor and logistical infrastructure characteristics of Serra, it is clear that the municipality will be among those considered in a hypothetical agreement.

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The State Government is betting that the favorable conditions in Espírito Santo have made the state the most efficient gateway for imported vehicles in Brazil, with emphasis on electric vehicles. In 2023, more than 223 thousand units were unloaded through the Espírito Santo port complex, nationalized in bonded automotive centers and distributed to São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Bahia and other states.

“In addition to the well-connected logistics hub and with short distances between ports and nationalization and distribution yards, the State offers very attractive tax incentives to make operations very competitive. And this has a decisive impact and stimulus on the generation of revenue, jobs and income in Espírito Santo”, highlights Ferraço.

According to the Federation of Transport Companies of the State of Espírito Santo (Fetransportes), the unloading and distribution of imported vehicles involves more than 1,200 workers operating a fleet of 380 trucks. This operation generates thousands of indirect jobs at gas stations, dealerships and other specialized companies in the segment. In this context, Serra occupies a strategic intersection position, located between Vila Velha and Vitória, from where vehicles, parts and equipment can be imported, and also close to Aracruz, which is at the center of port logistics investments in the state.

The State Government’s press office also informed that in addition to Zhongtong Bus, members of the business mission will visit the companies Geely, GAC, NETA, Zeekr, Farizon and SAIC and BYD and GWM, which are already operating in Espírito Santo. The business mission is coordinated by COMEXPORT, a company with a continuous presence for more than three decades in China.