News: South America/Brazil

Stellantis Produces Dakota Pickup in Argentina

Stellantis has started production of the Ram Dakota pickup at its plant in Córdoba, Argentina, with market launch in Brazil expected for 2026. The model shares its platform with the Fiat Titano, which in turn is derived from the Changan Kaicene F70 architecture, also marketed as the Peugeot Landtrek.

The Dakota will use the 2.2-liter Multijet turbodiesel engine produced in Argentina and will be positioned between the Rampage and the Ram 1500 in the regional lineup. The new pickup reinforces Stellantis’ regional manufacturing integration, as both the vehicle and its powertrain are produced within Mercosur. According to Herlander Zola, the company’s new President for South America, “this launch is a concrete example of how local integration drives regional competitiveness.”

Source: Automotive Business     Read The Article

PSR Analysis. The Ram Dakota marks a key move in Stellantis’ regional integration strategy, combining vehicle and engine production in Argentina to boost scale efficiency and cost competitiveness within Mercosur. Positioned between the Rampage and the Ram 1500, it strengthens Stellantis’ mid-size pickup lineup and leverages shared architectures across brands and partners to reduce development costs. The model also supports Ram’s brand expansion in South America’s one-ton pickup segment, challenging Toyota, Ford, and VW with a more localized and accessible product.   PSR

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

VW Completes Plant Updates for Mid-compact Pickup

Volkswagen has completed the adaptation of its São José dos Pinhais (PR) plant to produce a new mid-compact pickup, positioned to compete directly with Fiat Toro. The factory, which also builds the T-Cross, resumed operations in October after modernization works and now has capacity for about 125 vehicles per day. The company confirmed that supplier sourcing and integration are already defined, and pre-series units are expected in early 2026, with full production ramp-up to follow.

Source: Automotive Business      Read The Article

PSR Analysis. Volkswagen’s new pickup project aligns with the strong growth of mid-size and lifestyle-oriented pickups, a segment that has been capturing share from heavier one-ton trucks and compact SUVs. By positioning its model between the Saveiro and Amarok, VW targets customers seeking passenger-car comfort with light-commercial versatility, a trend led by Fiat Toro and Chevrolet Montana.

Local production in Paraná enhances cost competitiveness and supply-chain agility, while allowing VW to re-enter one of the fastest-growing and most profitable vehicle segments in Brazil, crucial for sustaining volume and profitability in the post-sedan era.   PSR

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

August Brazil Truck Production Below 2024

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%.

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