ForMóbile trade fair draws 50,000 visitors as Brazil’s mobility sector spotlights sodium‑battery technology

The 11th edition of the ForMóbile trade fair was held over four days at São Paulo Expo, attracting more than 50,000 visitors, 550 exhibiting brands and delegations from 43 countries. International participation rose 16% and exhibition space grew 14% compared with the previous edition. The event featured business‑to‑business matchmaking organized by ABIMÓVEL and ApexBrasil, sustainability workshops, and sessions on circular economy and design integration. Exhibitors reported notable sales gains, with one company citing a 300% increase in sales linked to the fair.

At the concurrent Future Mobility event in São Paulo, industry leaders discussed the outlook for electric and hybrid vehicles in Brazil. Consultant Murilo Briganti warned that stricter safety and efficiency regulations could phase out the low‑cost “popular” car segment, while predicting Chinese‑origin vehicles could capture up to 30% of the market by 2030. Israeli electro‑chemistry expert Doron Aubarch highlighted sodium‑ion batteries as a promising, abundant alternative to lithium, noting lower fire risk and better performance in extreme temperatures, with prices expected to match lithium cells within a year. The event also underscored growing consumer reliance on artificial‑intelligence tools when researching vehicle purchases.