Timeline

‣ First vehicle, a Peugeot, shipped to Brazil

‣ First automobile, which belonged to Francisco Matarazzo, registered in São Paulo. License plate P-1

‣ First trip from Rio de Janeiro to São Paulo made by car, captained by the French noble Lesdain. 700 km in 33 days on board a 16 cv Brasier vehicle

‣ First trip from São Paulo to Santos completed in a 30 cv Motobloc vehicle. 36 hours from one destination to another

‣ The first Brazilian automotive magazine, Revista de Automovéis, is launched in Rio de Janeiro

‣ First trip by car from São Paulo to Curitiba is completed in 12 days in a Fiat vehicle

‣ São Paulo state already has a fleet of 2.6 thousand automobiles

‣ The first female motorist in São Paulo, the wife of the commander of the Port of Santos, operates her automobile under protest from traditional families

‣ Ford’s head office in the United States opens a Brazilian branch. It is the first assembly plant to be built in Brazil. Model Ts began to be assembled in downtown São Paulo.

‣ The Brazilian Ford branch moves into its own building in the Bom Retiro neighborhood.

‣ The São Paulo-Campinas highway is inaugurated, the first highway in Brazil built specifically for car and truck traffic.

‣ General Motors opens a branch in Brazil

‣ The 1st Brazilian Automotive and Driving Exhibition, a predecessor of the São Paulo International Motor Show, is held at the Palace of Industry in São Paulo

‣  International Haverster do Brasil, a truck manufacturer, was founded. It is the first automaker in the commercial vehicle segment to establish itself in the country

‣ General Motors opens a new branch in São Caetano do Sul, SP

‣ Massey-Harris opens a branch in Porto Alegre, RS. Its agricultural machinery carries out the first mechanized rice harvest in Brazil

‣ New São Paulo-Santos highway is named Via Anchieta

‣ The Interlagos Speedway is inaugurated

‣ The first trip from São Paulo to Fortaleza by car is completed in a Chevrolet in 25 days

‣ Foundation of Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional, CSN

‣ Inauguration of the National Engine Factory, FNM

‣ Sudebaker Automobile Distributor founded, which gave rise to Vemag

‣ General Motors do Brasil produces the first all-metal bus body with domestic raw material

‣ FNM signs agreement to produce trucks with Alfa Romeo

‣ The Association of Automobile Parts and Similar Industry is founded, the embryo of Sindipeças

‣ The Subcommittee for Jeeps, Tractors, Trucks and Automobiles is established for the purposes of facilitating investments in Brazil’s automotive industry

‣ Willys Overland do Brasil is founded

‣ Volkswagen do Brasil is founded and assembly of Fusca (VW Beetle) and Kombi (VW Vans) begins in Ipiranga neighborhood

‣ Mercedes-Benz do Brasil is founded

‣ The 1st National Auto Parts Industry Exhibition is held in Rio de Janeiro

‣ The importation of completely assembled vehicles becomes prohibited

‣ Petrobras is founded

‣ Ford inaugurates manufacturing plant in Ipiranga, in São Paulo

‣ Caterpillar establishes plant in Santo Amaro, in São Paulo

‣ Caterpillar arrives in Brazil with the opening of a branch for parts and components in São Paulo, SP

‣ Juscelino Kubitscheck is elected president of Brazil. During his campaign, he makes a promise for vehicles that are completely produced in Brazil

‣ Professional Association of Tractors, Trucks, Automobile, and Similar Vehicles is founded in 1962, changing its name to Sinfavea

‣ The first engine block is cast in Brazil and all of Latin America by Sofunge as part of an order from Mercedes-Benz

‣ The Brazilian Association of Automotive Vehicle Manufacturers, ANFAVEA, is founded on the 15th of May

‣ The Executive Group for the Automotive Industry, or GEIA, is formed. It creates legislation allowing the industrialization of automobiles in Brazil. GEIA approves the manufacturing of the first national design, the Vemag, by Camioneta DKW

‣ Indústrias Romi introduces the Romi-Isetta

‣ A Mercedes-Benz plant is inaugurated in São Bernardo do Campo

‣ Volkswagen opens a plant in São Bernardo do Campo, SP, and begins producing Kombis

‣ Ford nationalizes truck manufacturing

‣ Simca do Brasil is founded

‣ Toyota do Brasil is founded

‣ Willys and Ford open their first casting plants

‣ Scania begins producing trucks in Brazil

‣ General Motors inaugurates a manufacturing plant in São Caetano do Sul, SP

‣ The Brazilian national soccer team wins its first World Cup in Sweden

‣ Toyota begins production of the Bandeirante

‣ Scania inaugurates plant in Ipiranga

‣ Volkswagen officially inaugurates the São Bernardo do Campo plant and begins production of the Brazilian Fusca

‣ Karmann-Ghia do Brasil is founded

‣ Simca begins production of the Brazilian Chambord

‣ Willys begins production of the Brazilian Dauphine

‣ The National Plan for Agricultural Tractors is created to stimulate production of these vehicles in Brazil

‣ The 1st São Paulo International Motor Show is held in Ibirapuera park in São Paulo

‣ The magazine Quatro Rodas is launched

‣ ANFAVEA releases the first edition of its annual statistical report

Valmet do Brasil is founded with the inauguration of a tractor manufacturing plant in Mogi das Cruzes, SP

‣ FNM releases the JK automobile

‣ Companhia Brasileira de Tratores (The Brazilian Tractor Company, or CBT) is founded

‣ Willys introduces the Pick-Up Jeep

‣ Ford begins producing tractors at its Ipiranga branch

‣ The first Brazilian commercial vehicles are exported: 380 Mercedes-Benz O-321 buses to Argentina and Venezuela

‣ Willys introduces Interlagos, the first Brazilian sports car

‣ Massey-Ferguson inaugurates a Brazilian tractor plant

‣ Scania inaugurates plant in São Bernardo do Campo, SP

‣ Willys introduces the Aero Willys, the first vehicle designed in Brazil

‣ VW introduces the Karmann-Ghia

‣ Toyota inaugurates plant in São Bernardo do Campo, SP

‣ Agrisa, the Gaúcho (Rio Grande do Sul) Agricultural Implements Industry is founded

‣ The first edition of the ANFAVEA Letter, then known as ANFAVEA News, is published

‣ Autoesporte magazine is launched

‣ First wave of ‘popular’ vehicles with lower taxes and prices, is released with the DKW-Vemag Pracinha, Willys Teimoso and VW Pé-de-Boi models

‣ Vemag introduces the Fissore, which was designed in Brazil

‣ Francisco Stédile acquires control of Agrisa, which is renamed Agrale and moved to Caxias do Sul, RS

‣ The São Paulo Vehicle Dealers’ Association comes to be national in scope, becoming the Brazilian Association for Authorized Vehicle Resale, Abrave, afterwards known as Fenabrave

 ‣ Willys inaugurates Jaboatão dos Guararapes plant in Pernambuco (1st manufacturing plant in the Northeast region of Brazil)

‣ Chrysler purchases Simca

‣ Ford introduces the Galaxie, and in the same year purchases Willys

‣ Volkswagen purchases Vemag

‣ Tratores Fiat (Fiat Tractors) do Brasil is founded

‣ Alfa Romeo acquires FNM

‣ Ford releases the Corcel

‣ General Motors introduces the Opala

‣ First export of light vehicles: 3 Chevrolet Opala to Chile

‣ Gurgel Foundation

‣ Chrysler starts production in Brazil

‣ Volkswagen launches 1600 and Variant

‣ The 7th annual São Paulo International Motor Show is held at Anhembi Park, SP for the first time

‣ Chrysler releases the Dodge Dart

‣ Volkswagen introduces the SP-2

‣ Volkswagen launches the Passat

‣ FNM launches the Alfa Romeo 2300

‣ Creation of Proalcool

‣ ANFAVEA opens its new headquarters on Av. Indianópolis, in São Paulo

‣ Komatsu establishes itself in Brazil with the inauguration of a plant for manufacturing tractors in Suzano, SP

‣ New Holland opens plant in Curitiba, PR

‣ Fiat Automobiles opens plant in Betim, MG, and begins manufacturing the 147

‣ Fiat acquires the remaining shares of the Brazilian Alfa Romeo subsidiary and unveils the 130 and 190E trucks manufactured in the old FNM branches in Xerém, RJ

‣ Caterpillar inaugurates plant in Piracicaba, SP

‣ Volkswagen opens manufacturing plant in Taubaté, SP

‣ Ford launches Charger II

‣ The Brazilian automotive industry reaches the historic mark of a million units manufactured in a single year

‣ The 1st Brasil Transpo, afterwards known as Fenatran, is held in Anhembi Park

‣ Fiat unveils its 147 pickup truck, Brazil’s first compact vehicle

‣ Labor movements are responsible for the first strikes in the metal works industry in the ABC region of greater São Paulo

‣ The Fiat 147, the first ethanol-powered vehicle

‣ Volvo begins producing buses and engines in Brazil

‣ Caoa, a Ford distributor, is founded

‣ Mercedes-Benz opens a bus manufacturing plant in Campinas, SP

‣ Ford introduces the F-1000 pickup truck

‣ The ‘Lei Renato Ferrari’ (Renato Ferrari Law), which regulates vehicle distribution in Brazil, comes into effect

‣ Volkswagen introduces the Gol

‣ Volvo opens plant in Curitiba, PR, begins manufacturing trucks in Brazil

‣ Volkswagen purchases Chrysler

‣ The Renato Ferrari Law, which regulates vehicle distribution in Brazil, comes into effect

‣ Volkswagen begins producing trucks in Brazil with the introduction of the 11-130 and 13-130 models

‣ Agrale begins manufacturing trucks

‣ Ford purchases New Holland

‣ Proconve, the Automotive Vehicle Air Pollution Control Program is created

‣ Autolatina, which brings together Ford and Volkswagen’s operations, is founded

‣ ANFAVEA opens an office in Brasília, DF

‣ Volkswagen unveils the Gol GTI, the first Brazilian automobile with electronic fuel injection

‣ Brazilian ports are reopened to imported vehicles

‣ Fiat acquires Ford’s tractor operations

‣ BMW designates a representative to Brazil, which begins importing the Series 5 model

‣ Agrale opens new factory in Caxias do Sul, RS

‣ AGCO emerges with the acquisition of Deutz Allis, which belonged to the German group KHD

‣ Citroën provides accreditation to Brazilian importer, who begins importing the XM model

‣ Mitsubishi begins operations in Brazil, designating a representative that begins importing L200 pickup trucks

‣ Land Rover begins operating with imported vehicles in Brazil

‣ The 1st Automotive Sectoral Agreement is created

‣ Honda begins activity in Brazil, importing the Civic model

‣ Peugeot becomes associated with a Brazilian representative and begins importing the 405 model

‣ Renault designates a representative in Brazil and begins importing the 19 and 21 models

‣ The 2nd Automotive Sectoral Agreement is created

‣ The Carro Popular program is started

‣ Nissan begins activities in Brazil with the importation of Maxima, Sentra and Pathfinder models

‣ Audi designates a representative to Brazil, which begins importing the 80 and 100 models

‣ ANFAVEA inaugurates Cedoc, the Documentation Center for Brazilian Automotive Industry

‣ The 1st Agrishow is held in Ribeirão Preto, SP

‣ Hyundai designates a representative to Brazil, which begins importing the Excel and Accent models 

‣ Creation of the 3rd. Automotive Sector Agreement

‣ BMW takes over the operation of imported vehicles in Brazil

‣ AGCO acquires Iochpe-Maxion and Massey Ferguson in Brazil

‣ Volkswagen Caminhões e Ônibus opens a factory in Resende, RJ

‣ Volkswagen inaugurates an engine manufacturing plant in São Carlos, SP

‣ Honda opens plant in Sumaré, SP, and introduces the Brazilian-made Civic

‣ Case inaugurates manufacturing plant in Piracicaba, SP

‣ Peugeot Citroën do Brasil is formed

‣ Komatsu inaugurates its second plant in Brazil in Arujá, SP

‣ Renault opens plant in São José dos Pinhais, PR, and releases the Scénic

‣ Mitsubishi inaugurates manufacturing plant in Catalão, GO, and releases the Brazilian-manufactured L200

‣ Toyota opens a plant in Sumaré, SP, and introduces the Brazilian-manufactured Corolla

‣ Chrysler inaugurates plant in Campo Largo, PR, and introduces the Dakota.

‣ Land Rover signs agreement with Karmann-Ghia and begins production of the Defender model in Brazil in São Bernardo do Campo, SP

‣ Caoa takes over representation of Subaru in Brazil

‣ Volkswagen and Audi open plants in São José dos Pinhais, PR, and release the Brazilian-manufactured Golf and A3

‣ Mercedes-Benz opens factory in Juiz de Fora, MG, and introduces the Brazilian-made A-Class

‣ Fiat acquires Case, creating CNH

‣ Caoa begins representing Hyundai in Brazil

‣ General Motors opens manufacturing plant in Gravataí, RS

‣ Iveco inaugurates Sete Lagoas plant in Minas Gerais

‣ Ford opens factory in Camaçari, BA

‣ PSA Group opens Peugeot Citroën plant in Porto Real, RJ

‣ Nissan begins production in Brazil at the Renault factory in São José dos Pinhais, PR

‣ The VW Gol, the first vehicle equipped with flex-fuel technology, is released

‣ Ford unveils the EcoSport, introducing the compact SUV market segment in Brazil

‣ AGCO purchases Valtra, which was formerly Valmet

‣ For the first time more flex-fuel vehicles are sold than gasoline vehicles, with a total of 753 thousand units and 647 thousand units, respectively

‣ Audi assumes control of Brazilian importation operations  

‣ ANFAVEA celebrates 50 years

‣ Caoa opens factory in Anapolis, GO

‣ Tata Motors acquires the Jaguar and Land Rover brands from Ford, creating JLR

‣ Fiat and Chrysler sign a global agreement creating FCA

‣ CNH opens factory in Sorocaba, SP

‣ Caterpillar inaugurates plant in Campo Largo, SP

‣ Industry reaches the mark of 10 million flex-fuel vehicles produced

‣ DAF Trucks establishes branches in Brazil (DAF Caminhões)

‣ General Motors opens manufacturing plant in Joinville, SC

‣ Hyundai inaugurates manufacturing plant in Piracicaba, SP

‣ The Inovar-Auto program is created

‣ Toyota opens factory in Sorocaba, SP

‣ DAF Caminhões inaugurates manufacturing plant in Ponta Grossa, PR

‣ CNH Industrial is created after a merger between Fiat Industrial and CNH Global

‣ BMW opens manufacturing plant in Araquari, SP

‣ Nissan opens factory in Resende, RJ, and launches March

‣ Agrale inaugurates chassis manufacturing plant in São Mateus, SP

‣ FCA inaugurates Jeep assembly plant in Goiana, PE and releases the Jeep Renegade

‣ Jaguar Land Rover opens manufacturing plant in Itatiaia, RJ

‣ Mercedes-Benz opens a plant in Campinas, SP

‣ The 29th annual São Paulo International Motor show takes place at the São Paulo Expo for the first time

‣ Toyota inaugurates an engine manufacturing plant in Porto Feliz, SP

‣ The 21st edition of Fenatran is held at the São Paulo Expo for the first time

‣ ANFAVEA participates on the council of the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers, the OICA

‣ Caoa Group and Chery sign agreement forming Caoa Chery

‣ The decree for the Route 2030 Program is signed. The above photo shows then ANFAVEA president Antoni Megale with Brazilian president Michel Temer 

‣ 30th edition of São Paulo International Motor Show takes place in São Paulo

‣ Honda opens manufacturing plant in Itirapina, SP

‣ Toyota introduces the Corolla, the world’s first hybrid flex-fuel vehicle

‣ The Covid-19 pandemic reaches Brazil and vehicle production in the second half of the year decreases to levels seen in 1957

‣ Creation of the Stellantis group, merger of PSA and FCA