Brazil's industrial sector hits milestones as Imobras opens R&D center and Nova Indústria Brazil secures R$750 bn credit

Imobras, Brazil's first domestic manufacturer of direct‑current electric motors, celebrated its 25th anniversary, reporting over 10 million units produced and employment of 170 staff. The company, which accounts for about 40 % of the gross domestic product of Alto Feliz, announced the August opening of a new research‑and‑development centre in Farroupilha, staffed initially by five engineers, to accelerate high‑performance solutions.

In parallel, the Nova Indústria Brasil (NIB) programme, launched in 2024, has gathered roughly R$750 billion in credit lines to modernise the country's industry. Credit for innovation grew 321 % between 2023 and 2025, and a new digital platform now aggregates financing from BNDES, Finep and Embrapii to simplify company access. Officials highlighted the programme’s role in fostering hybrid and electric vehicle production, while noting ongoing challenges in productivity and skilled‑labour availability.