Chinese cars in Brazil: which brands sell there and since when
Facts checked
Brazil is the Chinese industry's manufacturing base in South America. BYD inaugurated its plant at Camaçari in Bahia, on the site of a former Ford factory, on 1 July 2025, presenting the first BYD car assembled in Brazil, a Dolphin Mini. Assembly of the Dolphin Mini, King and Song Pro has run there since October 2025, with the company saying complete local production would begin by the end of 2026. GWM opened its first plant in the Americas at Iracemápolis in São Paulo state on 15 August 2025, on a site formerly used by Mercedes-Benz, starting with the Haval H6 in its hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions plus the Haval H9 and the Poer P30, at an initial capacity of about 50,000 vehicles a year. Chery's Brazilian operation is older: CAOA acquired 50.7 percent of it in November 2017 to form CAOA Chery, which uses plants at Jacareí in São Paulo state and Anápolis in Goiás; by March 2026 the Jacareí site was reported to be out of use. JAC has been in Brazil since the early 2010s.
The import tariff on electrified cars is the central rule and its phase-in has now finished. Import duty on electric and hybrid cars had been suspended since 2016. Under the Mover programme the federal government restored it in steps from January 2024, beginning at 10 percent for battery-electric cars and 12 percent for hybrids, and reached a single rate of 35 percent for all imported electrified vehicles from 1 July 2026 — the maximum Brazil has bound at the World Trade Organization for passenger cars. In June 2026 the Executive Management Committee of the Foreign Trade Chamber kept that schedule and renewed a duty-free import quota for semi-knocked-down and disassembled electrified vehicles, reported at 2.4 billion reais, from 1 July 2026.
The market has grown with the brands. The Brazilian Electric Vehicle Association counted 223,912 electrified vehicles registered in 2025 — battery-electric, plug-in hybrid and full hybrid — a rise of 26 percent on 177,358 in 2024, and 285,252 if mild hybrids are included. The BYD Dolphin Mini led the electric ranking for a second year with 32,486 registrations, ahead of the BYD Dolphin on 15,237 and the Volvo EX30 on 3,511, while the GWM Haval H6 led on the hybrid side.
Brand count keeps rising. Alongside BYD, GWM, CAOA Chery and JAC, the market in 2026 included Omoda and Jaecoo, Geely, GAC, Zeekr, Foton, MG, Jetour, CAOA Changan with Avatr, and Leapmotor, with several of them importing while local production is prepared.
At a glance
| Country code | BR |
|---|---|
| Region | Latin America |
| Market status | Open |
| Brands recorded | 16 |
| Chinese-owned plants | 3 |
| Models on this site | 26 |
Brands sold in Brazil
| Brand | Status | Since | Route to market | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 比亚迪BYD | Sold | 1 July 2025 | Local assembly | The since date is the start of local assembly at Camaçari; BYD sold imported cars in Brazil before that, and cnautohr did not verify the first year of Brazilian sales. |
| 长城GWM | Sold | 15 August 2025 | Local assembly | The since date is the opening of the Iracemápolis plant; GWM sold imported cars in Brazil before that, and cnautohr did not verify the first year. |
| 奇瑞Chery | Sold | November 2017 | A joint venture | Trades as CAOA Chery after CAOA acquired 50.7 percent of Chery's Brazilian operation in November 2017. Chery itself had been in Brazil before that; the first year was not verified. |
| 江淮JAC | Sold | not published | An independent importer | Long-established Brazilian presence with local production; the start year was not verified in this pass. |
| 欧萌达Omoda | Sold | not published | The company itself | Sold as Omoda & Jaecoo; local production reported as planned. |
| 奇瑞探索Jaecoo | Sold | not published | The company itself | Sold as Omoda & Jaecoo; local production reported as planned. |
| 吉利Geely | Sold | not published | An independent importer | |
| 传祺Trumpchi | Sold | not published | An independent importer | Retailed as GAC; local production reported as planned by the end of 2026. |
| 极氪Zeekr | Sold | not published | An independent importer | |
| 福田Foton | Sold | not published | An independent importer | |
| 名爵MG | Sold | 2026 | An independent importer | Listed as a 2026 entrant. |
| 捷途Jetour | Sold | 2026 | An independent importer | Listed as a 2026 entrant; local production reported as planned by the end of 2026. |
| 长安Changan | Sold | 2026 | An independent importer | Retailed as CAOA Changan, alongside the Avatr brand. |
| 阿维塔Avatr | Sold | 2026 | An independent importer | Introduced alongside CAOA Changan. |
| 零跑Leapmotor | Sold | 2026 | An independent importer | |
| 腾势Denza | Sold | not published | The company itself | Listed among the Chinese marques present in Brazil in 2026; the start year was not verified. |
The rules
Stated from the document that issued them, with the date each was read. Nothing here is an interpretation.
| Rule | What it says | As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Import duty on electrified cars: the phase-in | Import duty on electric and hybrid cars had been suspended since 2016. Under the Mover programme the federal government restored it in steps from January 2024, starting at 10 percent for battery-electric cars and 12 percent for hybrids, with the rate rising in stages tied to powertrain type. | Autoesporte (Editora Globo) | |
| Import duty on electrified cars: 35 percent from 1 July 2026 | The fourth and final step of the schedule took effect on 1 July 2026, unifying the import duty on all imported electrified vehicles — battery-electric, plug-in hybrid and full hybrid — at 35 percent, the maximum Brazil has bound at the World Trade Organization for passenger cars. | Autoesporte (Editora Globo) | |
| Duty-free quota for SKD and disassembled electrified vehicles | On 23 June 2026 the Executive Management Committee of the Foreign Trade Chamber (Gecex-Camex) approved renewal of a duty-free import quota for semi-knocked-down and disassembled electrified vehicles, reported at 2.4 billion reais, applying from 1 July 2026, while confirming that assembled and SKD electrified vehicles move to the 35 percent rate. | Reporting on the Gecex-Camex meeting of 23 June 2026 |
Chinese-owned plants in Brazil
| Owner | Location | Since | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| BYD | Camaçari, Bahia | 1 July 2025 | On the site of a former Ford plant. Inaugurated 1 July 2025 with the presentation of the first Brazilian-assembled BYD, a Dolphin Mini. Semi-knocked-down assembly of the Dolphin Mini, King and Song Pro has run since October 2025, with complete local production stated for the end of 2026. |
| Great Wall Motor | Iracemápolis, São Paulo | 15 August 2025 | GWM's first plant in the Americas, on a site formerly used by Mercedes-Benz. Opened with the Haval H6 hybrid and plug-in hybrid range, the Haval H9 and the Poer P30, at an initial capacity of about 50,000 vehicles a year. |
| Chery Holding Group | Jacareí, São Paulo and Anápolis, Goiás | November 2017 | Operated by CAOA Chery after CAOA acquired 50.7 percent of Chery's Brazilian operation in November 2017. Anápolis also assembles CAOA Changan models. Reporting in March 2026 described the Jacareí plant as no longer in use; cnautohr did not verify its current status. |
Models recorded in Brazil
| Model | Body | Status | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| BYD Atto 2 | SUV | Sold | 430 km WLTP |
| BYD Atto 3 | SUV | Sold | 508 km WLTP |
| BYD Dolphin | Hatchback | Sold | 427 km WLTP |
| BYD Han | Saloon | Sold | 506 km CLTC |
| BYD Seagull | Hatchback | Sold | 322 km WLTP |
| BYD Seal | Saloon | Sold | 570 km WLTP |
| BYD Sealion 5 | SUV | Sold | 61 km WLTP |
| BYD Sealion 6 | SUV | Sold | 80 km WLTP |
| BYD Sealion 7 | SUV | Sold | 482 km WLTP |
| BYD Shark 6 | Pickup | Sold | 100 km NEDC |
| BYD Song Pro | SUV | Sold | 75 km CLTC |
| BYD Tang | SUV | Sold | 530 km WLTP |
| Chery Tiggo 4 | SUV | Sold | not published |
| Chery Tiggo 7 | SUV | Sold | 93 km NEDC |
| Chery Tiggo 8 | SUV | Sold | 95 km NEDC |
| Denza Denza D9 | MPV | Announced | 98 km NEDC |
| Denza Denza Z9 GT | Estate | Announced | 161 km WLTP |
| Fangchengbao Bao 5 | SUV | Announced | 125 km CLTC |
| Haval H6 | SUV | Sold | 106 km (manufacturer figure, cycle not stated) |
| Haval H9 | SUV | Sold | not published |
| Haval Jolion | SUV | Sold | not published |
| Jaecoo Jaecoo 7 | SUV | Sold | 90 km WLTP |
| Omoda Omoda 5 | SUV | Sold | 430 km WLTP |
| Ora Ora 03 | Hatchback | Sold | 400 km NEDC |
| GWM Poer GWM Cannon | Pickup | Sold | 115 km (manufacturer figure, cycle not stated) |
| Wuling Wuling Bingo | Hatchback | Announced | 203 km CLTC |
Best sellers
| Model | Brand | Year | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| BYD Dolphin Mini | BYD | 2025 | 32,486 registrations, Brazil's best-selling electric car for a second year. |
| BYD Dolphin | BYD | 2025 | 15,237 registrations, second in the electric ranking. |
| GWM Haval H6 | Haval | 2025 | Named alongside the Dolphin Mini as a leader of the electrified market in 2025; a unit figure was not published in the source consulted. |
Chinese cars in Brazil: questions people ask
- Which Chinese carmakers build cars in Brazil?
- Three. BYD assembles at Camaçari in Bahia, on a former Ford site, from 1 July 2025. GWM opened at Iracemápolis in São Paulo state on 15 August 2025, on a former Mercedes-Benz site. CAOA Chery has produced in Brazil since CAOA took 50.7 percent of Chery's Brazilian operation in November 2017, using plants at Anápolis and Jacareí.
- What is the import tax on electric cars in Brazil?
- 35 percent since 1 July 2026. Import duty on electrified cars had been suspended since 2016 and was restored in steps from January 2024 under the Mover programme, beginning at 10 percent for battery-electric cars and 12 percent for hybrids; the final step unified the rate at 35 percent for all imported electrified vehicles.
- What is the best-selling electric car in Brazil?
- The BYD Dolphin Mini, with 32,486 registrations in 2025, its second year at the top. The BYD Dolphin followed on 15,237 and the Volvo EX30 on 3,511.
- How big is Brazil's electrified market?
- The Brazilian Electric Vehicle Association counted 223,912 registrations of battery-electric, plug-in hybrid and full hybrid vehicles in 2025, up 26 percent on 177,358 in 2024. Including mild hybrids, the total was 285,252.
- Which Chinese brands are sold in Brazil?
- BYD, GWM, CAOA Chery and JAC are the established operations, joined by Omoda and Jaecoo, Geely, GAC, Zeekr, Foton, and in 2026 by MG, Jetour, CAOA Changan with Avatr, and Leapmotor.
What changed
The only dated surface on this page. It records status changes, not news.
-
BYD updated its Camaçari timetable, saying complete production of cars in Brazil would begin by the end of 2026.
-
Import duty on all imported electrified vehicles reached 35 percent, completing the phase-in.
-
Gecex-Camex confirmed the final step of the import-duty schedule and renewed a duty-free quota for semi-knocked-down and disassembled electrified vehicles from 1 July 2026.
-
ABVE figures for 2025 were published: 223,912 electrified registrations, up 26 percent, with the BYD Dolphin Mini leading the electric ranking on 32,486 units.
-
Semi-knocked-down assembly of the Dolphin Mini, King and Song Pro began at Camaçari.
-
GWM opened its Iracemápolis plant in São Paulo state, its first in the Americas, starting with the Haval H6 range, the Haval H9 and the Poer P30.
-
BYD inaugurated its Camaçari plant in Bahia and presented the first BYD car assembled in Brazil, a Dolphin Mini.
-
Brazil restored import duty on electrified cars under the Mover programme, at 10 percent for battery-electric and 12 percent for hybrid vehicles, ending a suspension that had run since 2016.
-
CAOA acquired 50.7 percent of Chery's Brazilian operation, forming CAOA Chery with plants at Jacareí and Anápolis.
Related
Sources for Brazil
- BYD Brasil, BYD apresenta seu primeiro carro 100% elétrico brasileiro. Read . Company release covering the inauguration of the Camaçari plant on 1 July 2025. Title and date read from search results; the page body was not opened.
- GWM Motors Brasil, GWM inaugura sua primeira fábrica nas Américas, em Iracemápolis (SP). Read . Company release. Title read from search results; the page body was not opened. Opening date of 15 August 2025 corroborated by Autoesporte reporting.
- Autoesporte (Editora Globo), Imposto de carros híbridos e elétricos importados vai subir; veja nova taxa. Read . Published 18 June 2026. Source for the Mover phase-in, the starting rates of 10 and 12 percent, the 2016 suspension and the unified 35 percent rate from July 2026.
- Reporting on the Gecex-Camex meeting of 23 June 2026, Governo renova isenção para importação de carros elétricos semimontados. Read . cnautohr could not open a primary Gecex resolution or an MDIC release for this decision; the entry rests on consistent Brazilian reporting dated 23 and 24 June 2026 found through this search. Treat the 2.4 billion reais quota figure as unverified against the resolution text.
- Wikipedia, Grupo Caoa. Read . Finding aid, used for the November 2017 acquisition of 50.7 percent of Chery's Brazilian operation and the Jacareí and Anápolis plants. Corroborated by Quatro Rodas reporting of November 2017.
- Autoesporte (Editora Globo), Os carros elétricos e híbridos mais vendidos do Brasil em 2025. Read . Published 6 January 2026, citing ABVE. Source for the 223,912 total, the 26 percent rise, the 285,252 figure including mild hybrids, and the Dolphin Mini and Haval H6 as leaders. The 32,486 / 15,237 / 3,511 model figures were read from the publisher's summary shown in search results.