Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (C), Vice President Geraldo Alckmin (L), and BYD founder and president Wang Chuanfu pose with workers during the inauguration of the BYD car manufacturing plant in Camacari, Bahia state, Brazil, on October 9, 2025. Photo: CFP/Brazilian Vice-Presidency/Cadu GOMES

By Brasil 247 - Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Thursday (October 9) inaugurated a new factory of BYD Brazil in Camaçari, Bahia, marking the start of domestic production of electric and hybrid vehicles by the Chinese automaker. The project, valued at 5.5 billion reais (≈ US$1 billion), is BYD's largest industrial complex outside Asia and is expected to generate up to 20,000 direct and indirect jobs.

During the ceremony, the president emphasized the social and symbolic impact of the factory in Camaçari — a city that lost thousands of jobs when Ford left in 2021.

"This factory represents the recovery of the dignity of the people of Camaçari and of Bahia. This is sovereignty and dignity," Lula said.

The event featured ministers, local officials, and company executives. BYD's global chairman, Wang Chuanfu, called Brazil the "ideal scenario" for the company's Latin American expansion, citing the country's clean energy potential and a favorable environment for a green transition.

"Brazil enjoys unique and abundant clean energy advantages, an open and plural society, citizens ready to embrace new technologies. Moreover, the government launched Nova Indústria Brasil, focused on innovation and green transition, creating ideal conditions," he said.

Innovation and Job Creation

The factory begins operations with 350 employees. In the coming weeks, staffing is expected to rise to 2,000, reaching 1,800 by month's end. At full scale, the complex may produce 20,000 jobs, including those for suppliers and service providers.

At the ceremony, BYD presented the first flex plug-in hybrid developed jointly by Brazilian and Chinese engineers. The vehicle is capable of running on ethanol, gasoline, or electricity, designed specifically for the Brazilian market and symbolizing the technological partnership between the two nations.

"The arrival of this company fills me with pride, because I know what it is to be a worker and be unemployed. I know what it is for a man or woman to wake up in the morning and not have work. Work gives dignity and the certainty that, at the month's end, a well-earned salary awaits," Lula said.

Green Industrial Hub

The Camaçari complex covers 4.6 million square meters and houses one of Latin America's most advanced production lines for hybrid and fully electric models. The plant has also earned I-REC certification, confirming the use of 100% clean, renewable energy.

Vice President and Minister of Industry and Trade Geraldo Alckmin remarked that BYD's presence reinforces the goals of Nova Indústria Brasil (NIB), a program to modernize Brazil's industrial base with emphasis on innovation, sustainability, and competitiveness.

"BYD aligns perfectly with Nova Indústria Brasil. It is an innovative, green exporter. From here will depart vehicles for the entire world, especially for our region," Alckmin said.

Brazil-China Cooperation

China's Ambassador to Brazil, Zhu Qingqiao, noted that bilateral relations are in their "best historical phase," especially in clean energy and technology. BYD's Vice President and CEO of the Americas, Stella Li, called the investment the beginning of a "new era" in Brazilian auto manufacturing.

"Today we celebrate the arrival of a new era for the Brazilian automotive industry. Not only electric vehicles, but intelligent cars of the future, built by Brazilians, by Bahianos," Li said.

Brazil's Chief of Staff, Rui Costa, highlighted the local impact:

"The people of Bahia will seize this opportunity. Doubling of the project has already been announced, with battery and auto parts production. Brazil is dreaming big again."

(Reported by Brasil 247 on October 9, 2025)