BYD to invest R$ 3 billion to produce vehicles in Bahia

By Décio Costa | 7/4/23 | Translated by Jorge Meditsch

BYD officialized this Tuesday, 7/4, its intention to produce electrified vehicles in Camaçari, BA. The project will receive R$ 3 billion in investments for operations, including manufacturing electric bus chassis and trucks and hybrid and full-electric automobiles. The operations should start in the second half of 2024 and employ five thousand people.

Despite BYD has already defined the city for its industrial complex, it is not yet certain if it will use the facilities left by Ford in Camaçari. “BYD is dealing with Ford for a possible negotiation. We are following it, and we will do all possible to concretize the deal”, said Bahia’s governor, Jerônimo Rodrigues, at the announcement ceremony of the BYD plant installation in Salvador, BA.

BYD informed that in ten days should confirm if its operation will be at the former Ford structure or if it will build new facilities.

Worlds’ largest vehicle manufacturer, BYD projects to produce in Brazil initially 150 thousand yearly units and, in a second step, to reach 300 thousand. The company will process lithium and iron phosphate in Brazil, also for the external market.

Innovation center

“We plan to create the most advanced electric car in Bahia and turn the local a high-technology innovation center.

The objective is to grow in all Latin America through the installation of a green ecosystem. The Dolphin shows we are in the right way”, said Stela Li, BYD Americas’ CEO, at the ceremony, regarding the manufacturers’ recent launch that sold one thousand units in the country in a few days after its presentation at the end of June.

After months of negotiations, BYD’s arrival in Bahia will receive federal incentives such as the Aratu port concession, previously detained by Ford, and tax incentives from the state government until 2032, with a 95% reduction of the ICMS (merchandise and services circulation tax).

Bahia’s governor also announced the exemption of the state’s vehicle property tax for electric models up to R$ 300 thousand, despite this measure depends on approval by the state parliament.