Automotive industry in Brazil
Encyclopedia
The Brazilian automotive industry started in 1956, in the city of Santa Bárbara d'Oeste (São Paulo) with the production of the Romi-Isetta. In 1958, Toyota started to produce its famous Land Cruiser. In 1959, in the municipality of São Bernardo do Campo, the first Volkswagen
factory was built. It started manufacturing the Kombi, which preceded the famous Beetle
(known in Brazil as Fusca). At the same time, a Brazilian entrepreneur, Mr. Sebastiao William Cardoso, started producing an electrical small jeep called Tupi. In 1967, Puma
began selling sports cars.
Chevrolet
and Ford started manufacturing trucks and work vehicles and automobiles in Brazil in the 1960s. The Italian giant Fiat
established its first factory in Brazil in the 1960s, and Mercedes Benz started to produce trucks and buses during this time, and eventually opened an automobile factory in 1998.
These companies dominated the Brazilian market until the middle 1990s when the Brazilian market was finally opened to imports. In the 1990s, more auto companies settled and opened factories in Brazil, including: Nissan, Renault
, Peugeot
, Citroën
, Honda
, Hyundai
, Mitsubishi
, Chrysler
and Audi
.
Currently, the most successful genuine Brazilian auto company is Troller, with its T4 and Pantanal models. It sells all over Latin America and Africa. In the last few years, the Brazilian auto industry has grown quickly, attracting investments from the main global automakers. In 2007, Brazilian production grew 14% compared to 2006 figures, reaching more than 3 million vehicles.
Preliminary numbers from 2008 show that Brazil has passed France and its the worlds fifth largest producer.
Volkswagen
Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
factory was built. It started manufacturing the Kombi, which preceded the famous Beetle
Volkswagen Beetle
The Volkswagen Type 1, widely known as the Volkswagen Beetle or Volkswagen Bug, is an economy car produced by the German auto maker Volkswagen from 1938 until 2003...
(known in Brazil as Fusca). At the same time, a Brazilian entrepreneur, Mr. Sebastiao William Cardoso, started producing an electrical small jeep called Tupi. In 1967, Puma
Puma (car)
Puma was a Brazilian specialist car manufacturer which built cars from 1967 until roughly 1997. High import tariffs effectively closed Brazil during much of this period to foreign-built cars...
began selling sports cars.
Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
and Ford started manufacturing trucks and work vehicles and automobiles in Brazil in the 1960s. The Italian giant Fiat
Fiat
FIAT, an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino , is an Italian automobile manufacturer, engine manufacturer, financial, and industrial group based in Turin in the Italian region of Piedmont. Fiat was founded in 1899 by a group of investors including Giovanni Agnelli...
established its first factory in Brazil in the 1960s, and Mercedes Benz started to produce trucks and buses during this time, and eventually opened an automobile factory in 1998.
These companies dominated the Brazilian market until the middle 1990s when the Brazilian market was finally opened to imports. In the 1990s, more auto companies settled and opened factories in Brazil, including: Nissan, Renault
Renault
Renault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, and in the past, autorail vehicles, trucks, tractors, vans and also buses/coaches. Its alliance with Nissan makes it the world's third largest automaker...
, Peugeot
Peugeot
Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker based in Europe.The family business that precedes the current Peugeot company was founded in 1810, and manufactured coffee mills and bicycles. On 20 November 1858, Emile Peugeot applied for the lion...
, Citroën
Citroën
Citroën is a major French automobile manufacturer, part of the PSA Peugeot Citroën group.Founded in 1919 by French industrialist André-Gustave Citroën , Citroën was the first mass-production car company outside the USA and pioneered the modern concept of creating a sales and services network that...
, Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
, Hyundai
Hyundai
Hyundai ) is a global conglomerate company, part of the Korean chaebol, that was founded in South Korea by one of the most famous businessmen in Korean history: Chung Ju-yung...
, Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi
The Mitsubishi Group , Mitsubishi Group of Companies, or Mitsubishi Companies is a Japanese multinational conglomerate company that consists of a range of autonomous businesses which share the Mitsubishi brand, trademark and legacy...
, Chrysler
Chrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
and Audi
Audi
Audi AG is a German automobile manufacturer, from supermini to crossover SUVs in various body styles and price ranges that are marketed under the Audi brand , positioned as the premium brand within the Volkswagen Group....
.
Currently, the most successful genuine Brazilian auto company is Troller, with its T4 and Pantanal models. It sells all over Latin America and Africa. In the last few years, the Brazilian auto industry has grown quickly, attracting investments from the main global automakers. In 2007, Brazilian production grew 14% compared to 2006 figures, reaching more than 3 million vehicles.
Preliminary numbers from 2008 show that Brazil has passed France and its the worlds fifth largest producer.