【Text by Observers Network, Wang Yi】On October 9 local time, BYD, a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, unveiled its largest electric vehicle factory outside Asia in Brazil. At the opening ceremony, Brazilian President Lula attended and gave a speech, welcoming Chinese enterprises and stating, "We will continue to strengthen our relationship with China."

Lula said in his speech that BYD's investment proved that "industrialization and sustainability can go hand in hand." He joked: "God writes with curves, he made Ford leave Brazil and brought BYD here. This is a good replacement for us, because it is the most important technology in the global automotive industry."

Lula stated that Brazil will continue to strengthen its relationship with China, calling the two countries friends and important countries in the Global South, "we hope to be respected and treated decently."

"Through this factory, we have shown the country's development blueprint," Lula said, "we do not favor any country, but we hope to establish civilized relations with the world. This factory will reshape the dignity of the people of Camaçari, improve their lives, and let them walk on the street with their heads high."

On October 9 local time, President Lula attended the unveiling ceremony of BYD's Brazilian factory. BYD Weibo official account

According to the BYD Weibo official account, on the 9th, the 1,400th million new energy vehicle of BYD was officially launched at the Brazilian factory, marking a new stage in BYD's globalization. On that day, Lula attended and became the owner of the car.

In addition to Lula, Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, Chinese Ambassador to Brazil Zhu Qingqiao, Governor of Bahia State Jerônimo Rodrigues, Chairman and President of BYD Wang Chuanfu, and other guests, as well as several government officials and representatives of BYD employees, attended and witnessed this important moment.

The Hong Kong South China Morning Post reported on the 10th that this BYD factory is located in the city of Camaçari, Bahia state, Brazil, which is the largest factory of BYD outside Asia, and also the largest electric vehicle production base in Latin America, with an investment of 5.5 billion reais (approximately 7.283 billion yuan).

The factory was built on the original Ford site, with an initial annual capacity of 150,000 vehicles, and after the second phase, it will double to 300,000 vehicles. After full operation, it is expected to create more than 20,000 direct and indirect jobs. The first batch of mass-produced models includes Song Pro plug-in hybrid SUV, Dolphin Mini pure electric model, and Qin hybrid sedan.

BYD also released a limited edition of the Song Pro COP30 (the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) model, equipped with what is claimed to be the world's first plug-in hybrid flexible fuel engine, specially designed for Brazil's sugarcane ethanol market. This car will only produce 30 units, one of which will be donated to Lula to commemorate Brazil's restart of large-scale automobile manufacturing, and the remaining 29 will be donated to the COP30 conference held in the northern Brazilian city of Belém in November.

"Green development is an irreversible global trend," said BYD founder and chairman Wang Chuanfu at the ceremony, "we are not here just to make cars, but to build a future for every Brazilian who chooses clean transportation."

Wang Chuanfu pledged that BYD will continue to focus on the Brazilian market, "we will continue to invest here," "we hope to become a brand truly belonging to the Brazilian people... The future belongs to electric vehicles, the future belongs to all of us."

President Lula (center) and Wang Chuanfu (right) drove together. BYD Weibo official account

It is reported that since entering the Brazilian passenger car market in 2022, BYD has grown astonishingly quickly. Up to now, the company has sold over 170,000 electric and plug-in hybrid models locally, dominating the Brazilian electric vehicle market with a market share of 74.4%. Its sales in the Brazilian automobile market have risen to the seventh place, surpassing traditional brands such as Honda Motor Company, and accounts for more than 5.5% of the overall market share.

Wang Chuanfu introduced that BYD will strengthen its layout in Brazil and will use the new factory as a base for exports to other Latin American countries.

The South China Morning Post pointed out that BYD's expansion direction aligns with the industrial and environmental goals of the Brazilian government. This Chinese company plans to achieve 70% local procurement of parts by 2028 and establish R&D and testing centers in Brazil. Its project has also received support from the Brazilian government's "Green Mobility and Innovation Program" (Mover), which aims to reward automakers who invest in cleaner and more efficient technologies.

The report said that for the Brazilian government, the new BYD factory is both an economic stimulus and political capital. The manufacturing industry of Bahia state, which was damaged by Ford's departure in 2021, is expected to be revitalized by the new factory, and Brazil's position in the global energy transition will also be consolidated.

Brazilian news website 247 News reported on the 10th that Brazil has now become the largest importer of Chinese-made cars in the world and has the potential to develop into a regional production center. In addition to BYD, Chinese brands such as Great Wall Motors, Chery, and Changan are also rapidly expanding in the Brazilian market.

Rogelio Golfarb, former president of the Brazilian National Automobile Manufacturers Association (Anfavea) and former vice president of Ford, said that the key to the success of Chinese brands in Brazil lies in innovation, "with modern design and advanced intelligent interconnection solutions, they have changed consumers' perception of Chinese cars."

On September 9, Ruil Costa, Director of the Civil Office of the Presidential Palace, attended the unveiling ceremony of the BYD factory and specifically thanked China, emphasizing the importance of China to global growth, especially in the field of technology.

"I want to thank and express my sincere admiration for the efforts that the Chinese people have made in the past and now," Costa said. China has become a technological power in the world in a few decades, and the people of Bahia state, like the Chinese people, are striving to develop the economy while overcoming various difficulties."

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Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7559579078001508910/

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