Chinese Automaker Arrives in Brazil, Surpassing Ford, Hyundai, Chevrolet, and Nissan, and Launches the Country’s Cheapest Electric Car

The Chinese Manufacturer, BYD, Sets Sales Record with One of the Cheapest Electric Cars in Brazil, Surpassing Manufacturers Like FORD, Hyundai, Chevrolet and Nissan.

In June of this year, after several negotiations with the Federal Government and Bahia and much speculation, the new Chinese manufacturer, BYD, officially announced it would have what is the first complex for electric car production in the country, promising to surpass major manufacturers like FORD, Hyundai, Chevrolet and Nissan.

BYD Is Now the 4th Largest Automaker in the World

The Chinese BYD recently surpassed none other than Ford in August for global automobile sales. The Chinese company ranked fourth overall, narrowly missing third place to Honda.

The second position went to Volkswagen and the first to Toyota. According to a survey released by TrendForce, 5.55 million new cars were sold last month in the 37 largest markets in the automotive industry. The list of the 10 best-selling manufacturers also includes Hyundai, Ford, Chevrolet, Suzuki, Kia, and Nissan.

Check Below the List of the 10 Largest Car Manufacturers According to TrendForce:

1. Toyota – 9.80%
2. Volkswagen – 6.50%
3. Honda – 4.90%
4. BYD – 4.80%
5. Hyundai – 4.30%
6. Ford – 4.20%
7. Chevrolet – 4.00%
8. Suzuki – 3.90%
9. Kia – 3.50%
10. Nissan – 3.30%

To produce its cheap electric car, the largest Chinese manufacturer took advantage of the old Ford factory in Camaçari, in the metropolitan region of Salvador, which was still under negotiation at the time. Currently, there are brands like BMW, Toyota, and Caoa Chery that assemble hybrid and mild hybrid cars in Brazil.

However, the multinational BYD will be a pioneer in carrying out all the production processes on national soil. According to data, in addition to producing cars locally, the company that surpassed FORD, Hyundai, Chevrolet, and Nissan will also have two other manufacturing complexes: one focused on electric trucks and buses and another focused on lithium and iron-phosphate processing.

Chinese Manufacturer Sets Sales Record with Its Cheap Electric Car

Its lithium and iron-phosphate processing factory will be useful for battery production, which uses such raw materials. The Chinese manufacturer had already announced investments in lithium extraction in Chile, so there is a chance that the alkaline element will be imported to Europe and the East, taking advantage of the local port structure.

BYD broke the sales record for electric and hybrid cars in just one day. The Chinese brand announced the registration of 603 electric vehicles in its dealerships across the country. Of the range available, the BYD Dolphin was the most traded, with 226 registrations.

In second place is the Song Plus DM-i, with 208 units, and the sporty sedan Seal, which had 122 sales. Thus, BYD is moving towards leadership in the electric sector in the country. The Chinese manufacturer, which surpassed FORD, Hyundai, Chevrolet, and Nissan, caught market attention with the price of its cheap electric car, its latest launch, BYD Dolphin. The electric car came with a suggested retail price of R$ 149,800, cheaper than the vehicles sold here.

BYD’s Growth in the Global Automotive Market

BYD recorded a 5% increase in global sales compared to the previous month. With the expansion of sales, the Chinese manufacturer surpassed FORD, Hyundai, Chevrolet, and Nissan in another parameter: global market share, now accounting for a 4.8% share, according to the survey.

The good performance stands out considering the company only sells electrified vehicles while competitors still sell combustion engine models.

The market in China is also experiencing a period of low demand and high supply. Ford, on the other hand, saw its sales drop by 6.7%, which was enough for the result to be below expectations for the manufacturer.