Brazil has become the world’s largest importer of Chinese cars, with purchases reaching US$5.2 billion between January and May, a 146.9 percent increase from the same period last year, according to a report published Tuesday by Brazilian newspaper Valor Econômico.
Data from Chinese customs cited by the newspaper showed that Brazil overtook Russia, which imported US$5 billion worth of Chinese vehicles during the period, and Belgium, with US$3.8 billion.
Brazil ranked sixth among importers of Chinese vehicles during the same period last year, when purchases totaled US$2.1 billion.
Electrified Vehicles Drive Growth
The surge in imports has been largely driven by electrified vehicles, including fully electric and hybrid models. Imports of these vehicles reached US$4.5 billion in the first five months of the year.
The share of electrified vehicles in Brazil’s imports of Chinese vehicles has risen sharply, increasing from 33 percent in 2021 to 87 percent in 2025, according to the report.
Analysts interviewed by Valor Econômico attributed the expansion to several factors, including China’s export policies, growing consumer acceptance of electrified vehicles in Brazil, and purchases brought forward ahead of an increase in Brazilian import tariffs.
Brazil’s import tariff on vehicles was raised to 35 percent in July, encouraging some buyers and companies to accelerate purchases before the higher rate took effect.
Electrified Vehicle Sales Surge
The growth in imports comes as electrified vehicles gain a rapidly expanding share of Brazil’s domestic automotive market.
Between January and June, 215,023 light electrified vehicles were sold in Brazil, representing a 125 percent increase compared with the same period last year, according to figures from the Brazilian Electric Vehicle Association, or ABVE, cited by Valor Econômico.
The growth rate was more than six times that of Brazil’s overall automotive market, which expanded by 19.4 percent during the same period, according to the National Association of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers, or Anfavea.
Electrified vehicles accounted for 18 percent of domestic vehicle sales in June, up from 7.7 percent a year earlier.
Chinese Automakers Expand Local Presence
The rapid increase in imports is also taking place alongside a broader expansion of Chinese automakers in Brazil.
At least eight Chinese brands have already begun producing vehicles in Brazil or announced plans to establish local production, either through their own factories or through partnerships and alliances with manufacturers already operating in the country, according to the report.
The move suggests that Chinese automakers are increasingly looking beyond exports and seeking a more established presence in one of Latin America’s largest automotive markets.
A Structural Shift in the Automotive Market
Analysts cited by Valor Econômico described the expansion as a structural movement rather than a temporary increase in imports.
China’s automotive industry has established a leading position in the electrified vehicle segment, increasingly challenging traditional automakers from the United States, Europe and other parts of Asia.
Brazil’s growing demand for electric and hybrid vehicles, combined with the expansion of Chinese brands and local manufacturing plans, could further reshape the country’s automotive landscape in the coming years.
The figures also highlight the changing balance of power in the global automotive industry, as Chinese manufacturers strengthen their position in emerging markets and electrified vehicles become an increasingly important part of consumer demand.
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