Brazil ramps up electric and hybrid vehicle production

Several automakers are expanding electric and hybrid vehicle manufacturing in Brazil. Great Wall Motors (GWM) introduced the Haval H6 flex‑hybrid SUV and launched the premium H9 Selection version, offering new styling and maintaining the 2.4 L turbodiesel powertrain. Chinese EV leader BYD announced a major expansion of battery‑assembly capacity, aiming for 50% local content in its Brazil‑built cars and investing billions of reais in new lines for battery modules, packs and stationary storage. Chevrolet (General Motors) began production of the Captiva EV and Spark EUV at its Ceará plant, planning to increase output to 40 000 vehicles a year and eventually double that figure. MG Motor confirmed it will start assembling the electric MG4 Urban hatch and the MG5 SUV at the same Ceará facility from 2026, using a semi‑knocked‑down process to keep costs low. Stellantis revealed it will create 1 500 new jobs in Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro to support the launch of the second‑generation Argo compact car and the locally built Jeep Avenger compact SUV. Together, these moves reflect a surge in local EV and hybrid production, significant job creation, and a strategic shift toward greater domestic content in Brazil’s automotive sector.