Brazil’s Minister of Mines and Energy Alexandre Silveira meets with executives from SAIC Motor Corporation Limited in Shanghai. Photo: Basil 247 official website

By Brasil 247 - Brazil's Minister of Mines and Energy Alexandre Silveira met on Jan. 23 in Shanghai with executives from SAIC Motor Corporation Limited, a leading Chinese automaker and one of the global leaders in the sector, as part of the Brazilian government's effort to attract strategic investment and deepen technological cooperation with China.

According to Brazil's Ministry of Mines and Energy, the meeting focused on partnerships linked to sustainable mobility, low-carbon industrial chains, battery technologies, energy efficiency, automotive digitalization and biofuels — key areas in Brazil's energy transition agenda.

"Brazil will follow its own model for the energy transition in transport, combining electrification and biofuels, based on the experience accumulated in public policies for ethanol and on the diversity of the national energy matrix," Silveira said, as quoted in the official statement.

Silveira also stressed that the government is betting on the expansion of flex-fuel hybrid models as an immediate and cost-effective solution to reduce emissions while Brazil scales up its electric mobility infrastructure.

During the talks, the minister reaffirmed Brazil's support for SAIC's industrial plant project in Pouso Alegre, in the state of Minas Gerais, estimated at around R$ 300 million. The facility is considered strategic for positioning Brazil as a regional hub for low-carbon automotive manufacturing, with the possibility of additional investments being discussed.

Silveira highlighted the need to expand investments in electric vehicle infrastructure across Brazil, including charging stations, charging points and energy storage systems. He said Chinese companies are invited to take part in these investments, including through partnerships with power distributors, to accelerate the country's electric mobility rollout in a structured and sustainable way.

SAIC Motor is a leading Chinese automaker, with over 4.5 million vehicles sold in 2025, annual revenue exceeding US$ 80 billion, and operations in more than 170 countries. The group also leads the new energy vehicle segment, with more than 1.3 million electrified units sold last year, according to figures cited by the Brazilian ministry.

(Reported by Brasil 247 on Jan 24, 2026)