New electric car factory shows confidence in Brazil, says Lula
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said on Thursday (Oct. 9) that the inauguration of the new electric and hybrid vehicle factory of the Chinese company BYD, in Camaçari, Bahia, demonstrates the automaker’s confidence in Brazil’s development. At the complex’s launch, Lula highlighted the career of the company’s president and founder, Wang Chuanfu.
The president said that Chuanfu (pictured with Lula) was orphaned as a teenager and, despite the challenges, managed to succeed professionally.
“I want you to know that the Brazilian people and the people of Bahia appreciate your commitment,” Lula told the BYD president.
The Asian giant is investing BRL 5.5 billion in the complex. Present in Brazil for over a decade, the company has other investments in the country, with production units in São Paulo and Amazonas, as well as expansion and entry projects in other Latin American markets.
The new plant in Camaçari has an initial capacity of 150,000 vehicles per year, rising to 300,000 in a second phase. Currently, the unit focuses on vehicle assembly. Starting in 2026, production will be localized, including stages such as stamping, welding, and painting, as well as a higher proportion of components manufactured in Brazil.
According to the government, once fully operational, the complex could generate up to 20,000 direct and indirect jobs, including positions for employees, service providers, and suppliers.
Technology
During the event, BYD unveiled the world’s first flex-fuel plug-in hybrid vehicle to President Lula. The system was designed and built specifically for Brazil, using technology developed collaboratively by Brazilian and Chinese engineers, and is capable of running on any ethanol-to-gasoline ratio.
The Chinese company established itself in the former Ford factory in the Camaçari industrial complex. The facility had been idle since January 2021, when the Ford group announced its exit from manufacturing in Brazil, continuing only as an importer.
