Chinese electric vehicle makers have seized control of Brazil's automotive market in a stunning display of global expansion. Led by BYD, Chinese brands now command over 80% of all EV sales in South America's largest car market, marking a decisive shift as these companies pivot from saturated home markets to emerging economies where they can undercut established Western competitors.
The revolution is happening on the streets of Rio de Janeiro, where Chinese electric vehicles have become an unmistakable presence. "There are a lot of Chinese cars on the streets," EV owner Sérgio Ramalho told CNBC, capturing what's become Brazil's automotive reality in 2025.
The numbers tell an even more dramatic story. Brazil imported about 138,000 electric and hybrid vehicles from China in 2024, nearly 100,000 more than the year before, according to Brazilian customs data. This surge represents more than just market expansion - it's a complete rewriting of South America's automotive landscape.
BYD and other Chinese automakers found themselves blocked from the lucrative U.S. market, so they've turned their attention to emerging economies with devastating effectiveness. "Chinese EV makers are facing a lot of pressure within China," Ilaria Mazzocco, deputy director at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, explained to CNBC. "They've been going abroad in a very big way."
The strategy is working brilliantly. In early 2025, Chinese models captured more than 80% of all EV sales in Brazil, according to the country's Electric Vehicle Association. That's not just market penetration - that's market dominance in one of the world's most important automotive markets.
Price has become the ultimate weapon. BYD's Dolphin Mini, one of Brazil's top-selling electric cars, starts at about 119,900 reais or $22,000. That's roughly $7,000 less than General Motors' cheapest comparable model in Brazil. When you're looking at that kind of price differential, consumer choice becomes pretty straightforward.
"We've seen the arrival of Chinese vehicles here in a very large quantity," Gustavo Tannure, CEO of charging-network startup EZVolt, told CNBC. "Demand for charging is very high." The infrastructure is scrambling to keep pace with adoption.
But this isn't just about imports. Chinese companies are building serious manufacturing presence in Brazil. After the country dropped its 35% import tariff on EVs in 2015, BYD moved aggressively to establish local production. The company first entered Brazil in 2015 producing electric buses and now operates what it calls one of Latin America's largest EV plants in the northeastern state of Bahia.
