BYD, Great Wall, and Changan are taking over three former assembly plants in Brazil
- Chinese automakers, struggling in their domestic market, have decided to gradually expand into foreign markets—with Europe arguably remaining a top priority, given the overall size of these markets and their strong appetite for electric vehicles, a segment in which Chinese manufacturers have carved out a specialty.
- Other markets are also being targeted, such as those in South America. Brazil stands out as the most promising, offering both significant volume and substantial potential.
- Since 2022, the Brazilian passenger car market has seen steady growth, rising from 1.5 million units to 2 million by 2025. While this volume was previously surpassed in 2018 (2.1 million) and 2019 (2.2 million)—and even more significantly between 2010 and 2013, when annual sales well exceeded 2.5 million units—the current trend marks a clear recovery.
- Beyond Chery, which has been established in Brazil since 2014 and produced nearly 60,000 vehicles in 2025, three other Chinese manufacturers are currently establishing a long-term presence in the country: BYD, which took over a former Ford plant in Camaçari (Bahia state) with an annual production capacity of 150,000 vehicles; and Great Wall, which acquired a former Mercedes facility in Iracemápolis (São Paulo state) with an annual production capacity of 50,000 vehicles—a figure that could potentially be doubled to 100,000 units per year. Finally, Changan has taken over the CAOA plant located in Anápolis (state of Goiás), which has an annual production capacity of 90,000 vehicles—a figure announced at the inauguration of the production line in March 2026.