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BYD Opened Its First Plant for Electric and Hybrid Vehicles in the Northeast, Reactivating the Old Ford Complex in Camaçari (BA) with Billion-Dollar Investment, Focus on Clean Energy and Promise to Boost the Brazilian Automotive Industry.
A BYD inaugurated, on Thursday (9), its factory in Camaçari (BA), marking the beginning of local production of electric and hybrid vehicles.
The complex received R$ 5.5 billion and has the potential to generate 20 thousand direct and indirect jobs when fully operational.
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, president of the Republic, attended the ceremony alongside the company’s founder, Wang Chuanfu.
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What Was Inaugurated
The new unit starts operating in assembly mode, focusing on electrified models, and was presented by the federal government as a strategic step for reindustrialization and energy transition in the country.
According to the federal administration, the complex is identified as the largest manufacturer outside of Asia.
Where the Plant Is Located and What Has Changed on the Old Ford Site
Located at the address that housed Ford, BYD occupies the space that has been inactive since January 2021, when the American automaker ended production in Brazil.
The adaptation works for the new factory began in March 2024 and included upgrading facilities for electrified vehicles.
The complex received I-REC certification, which attests to the use of 100% electricity from clean and renewable sources.
Capacity and Production Stages
The plant opens with an initial capacity of 150 thousand vehicles per year, aiming to reach 300 thousand in the second phase.
Initially, the operation is SKD (Semi Knocked-Down), with assembly from imported sets.
The company plans to increase local content starting in 2026, when stamping, welding, and painting will be added.
Specialized publications report that nationalization will occur progressively throughout 2026.
Jobs and Impact on the Automotive Supply Chain
The government projects 20 thousand jobs between direct and indirect positions when the park is fully operational, totaling employees, contractors, and suppliers.
In the first weeks of operation, the official schedule provides for the gradual expansion of the workforce, with ongoing hiring.
Technology Developed for Brazil
During the ceremony, the company presented the world’s first flex plug-in hybrid, capable of running on any ratio of ethanol and gasoline, in addition to the rechargeable battery.
The system, according to BYD and the government, was developed in collaboration between Brazilian and Chinese engineers to meet the conditions of the national market.
What Lula Said at the Inauguration
In his speech, Lula praised Wang Chuanfu and linked the inauguration to the company’s confidence in the country.
The president stated: “This man managed to become a genius of the electric car, a genius of the most advanced technology in the world, and builds this extraordinary factory and shows trust in Brazil.”
In conclusion, he expressed his gratitude: “So, my thanks, I want you to know that the Brazilian people and the people of Bahia appreciate your willingness.”
Sustainability and Use of Clean Energy
The I-REC certification obtained by the Bahia complex confirms that all electricity consumed in the operation is from renewable sources, aligning the plant with commitments to decarbonize the automotive supply chain.
This seal is used to track the source of energy and has an accredited issuer in Brazil.
Timeline and Industrial Maturation
Official reports and specialized press indicate that national production begins with assembly of imported kits and evolves to complete processes as new lines come online.
State authorities and the company itself project that the factory will be fully operational by the end of 2026, after adjustments to the schedule.
The October inauguration confirms the start of industrial operations and maintains the goal of increasing local content over the next year.
Other BYD Operations in Brazil
In addition to Bahia, the company maintains units in Campinas (SP) and Manaus (AM), active for nearly a decade in the country.
In these units, it produces electric bus chassis, photovoltaic modules, and battery packs.
The brand’s industrial presence in Brazil began in 2015 and has been expanded since then, which supports the integration with the new plant in Camaçari.
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