BYD: Brasil pode ser hub de elétricos na América Latina
A montadora chinesa BYD está construindo sua primeira fábrica no Brasil para atender à demanda nacional e internacional por veículos elétricos, em meio aos esforços globais para reduzir as emissões de CO2.
O complexo industrial está localizado em Camaçari, na Bahia, e terá capacidade de produção de 150.000 carros/ano, dois modelos 100pc elétricos e um híbrido plug-in, em sua primeira fase.
Com investimentos de R$3 bilhões, o início da construção está programado para fevereiro e as operações começarão em dezembro. Mas a BYD não está de olho somente no mercado brasileiro ao construir sua primeira fábrica no país.
"A expectativa é tornar o Brasil um hub de exportação para abastecer o mercado nacional e da América Latina", contou Alexandre Baldy, conselheiro especial da empresa e ex-ministro das Cidades do governo Temer, à Argus.
A estratégia acontece em um momento no qual montadoras asiáticas estão assumindo cada vez mais a liderança no mercado de veículos da América Latina.
Tal cenário ecoa no tamanho da instalação da BYD no Brasil: será seu maior centro industrial fora da China.
"Vemos o continente como um mercado potencial para a BYD e a transição energética", pontuou Baldy. "Estamos em uma fase avançada de desenvolvimento de projetos de instalação."
No ano passado, a China foi o segundo maior exportador de veículos para o país, subindo para 42.000 unidades entregues, contra 7.900 em 2022, informou a Associação Nacional dos Fabricantes de Veículos Automotores (Anfavea).
A expansão asiática no setor automotivo do continente também impactou as exportações brasileiras para os países vizinhos, causando uma queda de envios em 2023.
Na última década, a participação da China nas importações de automóveis da América Latina saltou de 4,6pc para 21,2pc, enquanto a do Brasil caiu de 22,5pc para 19,4pc, conforme dados da Anfavea.
A GWM, outra montadora chinesa de veículos elétricos, também iniciará operações no país em maio. E Volkswagen, Fiat e Renault — que já produzem no Brasil — deverão lançar produtos eletrificados neste ano, segundo fontes especializadas.
Fábrica produzirá híbridos e elétricos
Inicialmente, a BYD fabricará três tipos de veículos no país, sendo dois 100pc elétricos e um híbrido plug-in – com baterias que podem ser carregadas na tomada, além do tanque de combustível.
"Acreditamos que o híbrido é um carro com características possíveis de terem maior acolhimento por parte do consumidor brasileiro", afirmou Baldy.
A gigante chinesa também está desenvolvendo um motor híbrido flex para combinar eletricidade e etanol no Brasil. Por isso, está construindo um polo de pesquisa e desenvolvimento (P&D) na Bahia para estudar a tecnologia, contou o porta-voz à Argus.
Entretanto, Baldy acrescentou que "o elétrico será também protagonista para termos uma mobilidade com o comprometimento ambiental", graças às fontes de energia amplamente renováveis da região.
A Anfavea projeta que as vendas de veículos elétricos movidos a bateria aumentem para 24.100 unidades em 2024, ante 15.200 no ano passado. A entidade prevê a alta mesmo considerando a volta da tarifa de importação em janeiro.
Enquanto isso, as vendas de híbridos devem crescer para 117.900 unidades este ano, em relação a 73.600 em 2023.
A participação de mercado dos veículos híbridos e 100pc elétricos no país foi de 3,4pc e 0,9pc, respectivamente, em 2023. O carro flex – capaz de usar etanol hidratado e gasolina de forma intercambiável – ainda é o mais procurado no Brasil, representando 83pc deste total.
As unidades da BYD na Bahia ficarão localizadas no antigo complexo da Ford, em Camaçari. A cidade é um polo industrial e uma das 71 cidades brasileiras integradas ao Mercosul.
Além da expansão da produção, a BYD aumentará sua rede de concessionárias no país para 250 sedeadas nos principais estados até o fim de 2024.
Por Laura Guedes
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