Central/South America | Power Systems Research

2025-09-13

Brazil Vehicle Exports Hit Highest Level in Seven Years

By the month of August 2025, Brazil’s automotive exports reached 57,100 vehicles, marking the highest monthly level since June 2018. This figure represents a 19.3% increase over July and a 49.3% increase compared to August 2024. Argentina played a pivotal role, accounting for 59% of the country’s annual exports.

From January to August, total exports summed 313,300 units, up 12.1% compared to the same period in 2024. Production stood at 247,000 vehicles in August, nearly flat from July (+3%) but down 4.8% year-on-year. Overall production in the year reached 1.743 million units, an increase of 6% over 2024. Domestic market performance remained largely stable, with 225,400 vehicle registrations in August, though the average daily sales were slightly below 2024 levels at 10.7 thousand per day, raising caution for the final quarter

Source: Automotive Business

Categories: Central/South America, Passenger Cars, Minivans, and SUVs, Production, South America/Brazil

Office: Brazil Office

August Brazil Truck Production Below 2024

Fabio Ferraresi

Brazilian truck production declined in August 2025, with factories manufacturing 10,096 units, down 16.3% from July (12,058 units) and down 22.9% compared to August 2024 (13,101 units). Over the first eight months of 2025, accumulated production was 88,525 trucks, slightly lower by 1% compared to the same period in 2024 (89,401 vehicles).

Domestic truck sales also fell sharply: 8,900 trucks were licensed in August, 15.9% fewer than July, and 22.6% fewer than August 2024. High interest rates are being cited as a main cause, especially affecting heavy trucks, which account for nearly half the truck market and saw a production drop exceeding 19%.

Categories: Central/South America, Commercial Vehicles, Production, South America/Brazil

Office: Brazil Office

São Paulo Adopts Biomethane in Bus Fleet

Fabio Ferraresi

On Sept. 2, 2025, the biggest city in Americas with biggest bus fleet, started on the path to use of biomethane as fuel in the city’s public transport fleet and garbage collection vehicles. The initiative sets rules for fuel acquisition and introduces the gradual adoption of biomethane-powered vehicles. City officials emphasize that biomethane offers lower operating and acquisition costs compared to electric buses and avoids the need for large-scale charging infrastructure.

Categories: Alternative Power, Central/South America, Commercial Vehicles, Production, South America/Brazil

Office: Brazil Office

2025-08-16

Hitachi Construction Plans Regional HQ in Chile

Fabio Ferraresi

Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. plans to establish a regional headquarters in Chile to oversee and expand its operations in Latin America. The move shifts the focus from solely selling new machinery to localizing parts supply and service support, enabling faster responses to dealers and customers.

Following the end of its joint venture with Deere & Company in 2022, the company has been independently growing in the Americas, initially prioritizing North America. The decision for a Chile-based HQ reflects cultural and operational differences from North America, as well as Chile’s importance in the mining dump truck market.

Source: Hitachi Press Release Read The Article

Categories: Central/South America, Commercial Vehicles, Production, South America/Brazil

Office: Brazil Office

2025-07-26

Chinese Machinery Gains Market Share in Brazil

Fabio Ferraresi

Chinese machinery now accounts for 30% of Brazil’s market, up from 18% a decade ago. The agricultural sector, once dominated by local firms, now sees 13.2% of its machines coming from China. Abimaq warns of risks to domestic manufacturers, including loss of market and post-sales service challenges.

Despite concerns, 2025 shows recovery: agricultural machinery sales rose 22.8% through May, construction equipment 17.3%. Abimaq, the Machinery OEM association, urges government support and “equal” competition conditions.

Source: Autodata Read The Article

PSR Analysis. This market rebound in 2025 is primarily driven by favorable weather conditions and government support for small farmers. However, high interest rates and limited credit for large producers pose risks. Meanwhile, Chinese machines are gaining market share, rising from 9.7% to 13.2% in agriculture and 30% overall, raising concerns about post-sales support and declining local industry competitiveness. Without policy changes, foreign content—especially from China—will likely continue displacing domestic production long term. PSR

Fabio Ferraresi is Director, Business Development, South America, for Power Systems Research

Categories: Agricultural, Central/South America, Production

Office: Brazil Office

Brazil Will Be Largest Mercedes Truck Market in 2025

Fabio Ferraresi

If current trends continue, Brazil is set to once again become Mercedes-Benz’s largest truck market worldwide, surpassing Germany as it did in 2023. This outlook was confirmed by Achim Puchert, global CEO of Mercedes-Benz Trucks and former head of the Brazilian operation from 2022 to 2024.

Categories: Central/South America, Commercial Vehicles, Production

Office: Brazil Office

2025-06-22

Brazil May Surpass Europe in Ag Machinery Sales

Fabio Ferraresi

Deere & Company estimates that Brazil will become its second-largest global market within the next five to ten years, surpassing Europe in sales of tractors, harvesters, and other agricultural equipment.

The forecast is based on the expansion of Brazilian agricultural production, particularly soybeans, corn, and sugarcane. According to Cristiano Correia, Vice President of Production Systems for Latin America, “no other region shows a compound growth rate in grain production comparable to Brazil’s over the next decade.”

The Illinois-based company is holding its first Investor Day in Brazil in over a decade in 2025, gathering around 40 investors from North America, Europe, and Asia.

Deere projects a 27% increase in Brazil’s planted grain area by 2035 and expects corn-based ethanol production to double during the same period.

Categories: Agricultural, Central/South America, Sales, South America/Brazil

Office: Brazil Office

2025-05-05

Agrishow 2025 Provides Equipment Innovations

Fabio Ferraresi

Agrishow 2025, held April 28-May 2, 2025, in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, confirmed Brazil’s leadership in Agricultural innovation. The show spotlighted sustainable tech, automation, and digital solutions, with both business and attendance increasing since the last show in 2024. The focus: boosting productivity, reducing environmental impact, and preparing for a tech-driven ag future.

Four representatives of the Power Systems Research South America Office representatives attended the 30th edition of Agrishow, Latin America’s premier agricultural technology fair. The event showcased cutting-edge machinery, sustainable solutions, and the latest in precision agriculture.

Categories: Agricultural, Central/South America, Show Reports

Office: Brazil Office

2025-04-20

Interest Rates Hurt Brazil Heavy Truck Production

Fabio Ferraresi

Heavy truck production in Brazil fell 3.7% in Q1 2025 versus the same period in 2024, totaling 16,700 units, according to Anfavea. The decline is attributed to high interest rates (Selic), which have limited fleet renewal despite a record grain harvest.

Heavy truck sales also dropped 7% in the quarter, with 13,000 units registered.

OEM Performance – Heavy Trucks: Volvo: 3,900 units sold (+4% YoY); Scania: 3,500 units (−17%), and Mercedes-Benz: 2,100 units (−13.5%)

Despite the contraction in the heavy segment, total truck production grew 8.2%, reaching 31,700 units. The Medium-duty truck segment production was 8,900 units (+28.5%) and the Light-duty truck production was 4,500 units (+10%)

Categories: Central/South America, Commercial Vehicles, PowerTALK, Production, South America/Brazil

Office: Brazil Office

Brazil Light Vehicle Exports Grow 41%

Fabio Ferraresi

Vehicle exports from Brazil grew by nearly 41% in the first quarter of 2025. Brazil automotive industry shipped 115,600 units abroad, compared to 82,200 vehicles during the same period in 2024. Only in March, 38,900 vehicles were exported, up 19% year-over-year.

The increase was boosted by higher export volumes to Argentina, which accounted for 58% of Brazil’s vehicle exports in Q1 2025. A total of 67,630 vehicles were sent to Argentina— up 120% from the same period last year.

Categories: Central/South America, Commercial Vehicles, Passenger Cars, Minivans, and SUVs, Production, South America/Brazil

Office: Brazil Office

News: Central/South America

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