The Brazilian market has enjoyed exceptional growth in recent years (+28.8% in 2007). The world’s leading vehicle manufacturers are present here, including Chrysler, Honda, Renault, Toyota, PSA, Fiat and Mercedes. Despite the competition, Renault virtually doubled its sales in Brazil between 2007 and 2008, making it the fifth most popular carmaker.

In 1997, the Group founded an industrial and commercial subsidiary, Renault do Brasil Automoveis. At the same time, it started work on the Ayrton Senna industrial complex in Curitiba, which now comprises three units: Cars (Bodywork/Assembly) opened in 1998, Engines (Mecanica Mercosul) opened in 1999, and LCVs (Bodywork/Assembly).

In 2008 in São Paulo, the Group opened Renault Design America, its first design center on the American continent. The center houses ten automotive design experts of Brazilian, Argentinean, Colombian and French nationality.

Brazil was a forerunner in the use of biofuels, since it started to produce and use sugar cane ethanol in 1975. Today, it turns out more than 16 billion liters per year, making it the world’s second biggest producer after the US.

 

Brazil is also seeking to replace 2% of the diesel fuel consumed for domestic purposes, i.e. around 800 million liters, by biodiesel, a renewable equivalent.

 

Brazil in brief (2007 figures) 

• Capital: Brasilia
• Area: 8,547,404 km²
• Population: 192 million
• GDP: US$ 1,314,170 million
• Roads: 1.98 million km

 

Renault in Brazil: key data

• Renault do Brasil, an industrial and commercial subsidiary, is 96.4% owned by Renault
• Production: 118,209 vehicles, or 4.6% of the Group total
• Workforce: 4,526, or 3.5% of the Group total