Brazil and China deepen ties as BYD opens landmark electric vehicle plant in Bahia: Video
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva celebrated the opening of BYD’s new electric and hybrid vehicle plant in Camaçari, Bahia, calling it a turning point for Brazil’s automotive industry and a major step in the country’s partnership with China.
The inauguration, broadcast live on Canal Gov, marked one of the largest industrial investments in Brazil in recent years.
The £860 million (US$1.03 billion) investment marks the Chinese automaker’s first major production hub in South America, with an initial capacity of 150,000 vehicles per year — set to double in a second phase. The plant replaces Ford’s former factory, which shut down in 2021 after two decades of operations, leaving thousands jobless and dealing a blow to the regional economy.
BYD’s arrival has been framed as a major step in Brazil’s shift towards advanced manufacturing, with plans to produce up to 700,000 vehicles a year and expand exports beyond the domestic market to Latin America and Africa.
He also emphasised that Brazil aims to move beyond raw exports and become a hub for innovation. “We want to export knowledge, we want to export added value,” Lula said, adding that Brazil and China share a vision for the Global South built on equality and mutual respect. “We don’t accept anyone pointing a finger in our face. We want to be treated with dignity.”
The partnership underscores the deepening economic and political ties between Brasília and Beijing, as both nations seek to reduce dependence on Western markets. For Lula, BYD’s investment signals not only renewed industrial growth in Bahia but also a broader strategy: to position Brazil as a leading producer and exporter of clean energy technologies throughout the Global South.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
