How BYD Grew in Brazil: From 260 Cars to Camaçari

How BYD Grew in Brazil: From 260 Cars to Camaçari

Quick answer: BYD Brasil’s historical series went from 260 units in 2022 to 112,814 in 2025. BYD inaugurated final assembly in Camaçari in October 2025 and reported leading the passenger-car and pickup retail channel in April 2026. By October 2026 the company said welding and painting were in advanced testing, a later step in developing the Bahia complex.

How BYD’s Brazilian passenger-car business grew

The rise started from a small passenger-car base. BYD Brasil’s 2025 year-end release gives a four-year series that makes the change in scale visible. The same release identifies Dolphin Mini as its highest-volume model in 2025, followed by Song Pro and Song Plus. That mix included battery-electric cars and plug-in hybrids.

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BYD Brasil’s annual historical series and separate monthly retail milestone
Period Units Scope
2022 260 Company historical annual series
2023 17,937 Company historical annual series
2024 76,713 Company historical annual series
2025 112,814 Company historical annual series
April 2026 14,911 Passenger cars and pickups, retail channel only

The annual and monthly rows use different scopes. BYD’s 2025 release also gives 111,683 in its narrower passenger-car registration table. The headline annual figure above follows the company’s historical series. Cover photo: Dolphin Mini in BYD Brasil’s April 2026 retail release, with editorial typography added.

What the April retail milestone means

In its May 1 release, BYD Brasil put April retail registrations at 14,911 and the channel share at 12.8%. The ranking covers passenger cars and pickups sold through the retail channel. The Fenabrave April report puts BYD first in its broader passenger-car and light-commercial retail table at 12.20%. In BYD Brasil’s own April release, the company ranked fifth when direct sales were included, with 18,474 registrations. The rankings use distinct vehicle and sales scopes.

By September 2026, BYD’s channel update reported 14,946 retail registrations and 7,263 direct registrations for that month. The second channel was material to BYD’s business by then. The April milestone captures the retail breakthrough, while the September split shows how the company’s route to buyers broadened.

How Camaçari changed the manufacturing story

Brazil’s Federal Highway Police dates the inauguration ceremony to October 9, 2025. BYD’s account of the opening identifies the facility in operation as final assembly and says the commemorative Song Pro plug-in hybrid flex-fuel vehicle marked the company’s 14 millionth vehicle produced globally. Bahia’s economic development department subsequently reported 10,000 vehicles produced at the site by November 2025.

BYD staff and officials at the Camaçari assembly line inauguration in October 2025
BYD’s Camaçari inauguration, October 2025. Archival press photograph from BYD Brasil.

The next steps involved different parts of the factory. In its October 26, 2026 update, BYD reported advanced operational tests in welding and painting and ongoing construction for stamping. It described a transition toward integrated local manufacturing in early 2027. The inauguration, the ramp in assembled vehicles and those later manufacturing tests are separate milestones.

For the wider strategy, see our BYD global expansion analysis. For current purchase decisions in Portuguese, see the Brazil buyer guide and the Camaçari import-versus-local-production guide.

Frequently asked questions

How many cars did BYD register in Brazil in 2022?

BYD Brasil’s historical sales series lists 260 units for 2022, the first year in its passenger-car series.

How many vehicles did BYD report in Brazil in 2025?

BYD Brasil’s year-end historical series lists 112,814 units. The same release lists 111,683 in its narrower passenger-car registration table.

Did BYD lead the entire Brazilian car market in April 2026?

BYD Brasil reported first place in its April 2026 retail ranking for passenger cars and pickups, with 14,911 registrations and 12.8% of that retail category. The channel excludes direct sales.

When did BYD inaugurate Camaçari?

Brazil’s Federal Highway Police and the Bahia state government date the inauguration ceremony to October 9, 2025. BYD’s account describes the opening of the final assembly line.

What happened to the Camaçari plant after opening?

Bahia reported 10,000 vehicles produced by November 2025. In October 2026, BYD reported advanced tests for welding and painting, with the transition toward integrated local production still underway.

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