As GM Authority reported last week, General Motors has just announced a major investment for São Paulo in Brazil.
The automaker confirmed an investment of R$5.5 billion reais – approximately US$982 million – for its operations in the Brazilian state of São Paulo, where it operates two manufacturing complexes, the largest vehicle development center in South America, a stamping plant and a logistics center. The amount covers the development of “flexible hybrid” engines, the updating of the vehicle portfolio and the modernization of all facilities in the state.
This important investment for São Paulo is part of the R$ 7 billion (about US$1.4 billion) sum corresponding to the first phase of the investment cycle that GM Brazil will execute between 2024 and 2028. Together with the new investment at the Gravataí plant, the disbursement will mark the company’s greatest transformation in Brazil as the first market in the world to offer flexible hybrid technology – a hybrid system combined with a combustion engine powered by either gasoline or ethanol.
“The investments we are announcing will strengthen General Motors’ sustainable mobility plans in Brazil and drive the company’s future growth,” said GM Executive Vice President and President of Global Markets, Rory Harvey. “Brazil will be the first market to offer GM’s flex-fuel hybrid technology in the world, providing Chevrolet customers with more options in propulsion systems. It is an addition to our portfolio of combustion and electric engines,” he added.
In particular, flexible hybrid powertrain development will be carried out at the Technological Center of GM São Caetano do Sul complex and is expected to be available in the medium term in the portfolio of locally manufactured vehicles. The new powertrain configuration is an alternative for high-volume models during the transition to the all-electric era, meeting the demand for greater energy efficiency and fuel savings from Brazilian customers.
Although GM didn’t specify it, the flexible hybrid powertrain technology is expected to come standard on the two all-new utility vehicles it’s developing in Brazil, including the entry-level Chevy Onix crossover variant and the Chevy’s upcoming compact crossover for the country. Additionally, the investment in São Paulo will support production of the updated Chevy Tracker at the São Caetano do Sul plant and the addition of 150 robots to its assembly lines in the state.
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well, since out of GMB and after during Munich time, ever said to some manufacturers about a "stationary three cylinders motors supply with ethanol electricity to floor bateries and those to 4 motors EV to each wheels working as active brake as well" but no one interested in thiy hybrid idea, now lets see how light hybrid comes
Brazil has gone to the dogs, I would be cautious about investing there. They are banning X.
If X was banned in Brazil, it is because the company gave several reasons, such as failure to comply with court orders and failure to inform a new legal representative. Several other foreign social networks continue to operate normally in the country.
Chevrolet began to lose its leadership in the Brazilian market in 2021 to Fiat and Volkswagen and is now in 3rd place in the ranking. If the brand does not invest in Brazil, it will lose even more market share.
Furthermore, a possible exit of Chevrolet from Brazil would not be so catastrophic for the automotive market or local economy, since possibly, some Chinese company would quickly show interest in local factories to offer more modern products.
Hybrid is definitely the future- the amount of copper needed to up-fit just the US for 100%EV use is 5x the total global un- mined reserves. And the grid upgrades for the coming AI expansion will make electricity untenable for auto usage.