GM Brazil celebrates 100 years and 20 million vehicles

January 24, 2025 by General Motors

Founded in 1925, General Motors Brazil has been a major player in shaping the South American nation's industrial economy over the last 100 years.

At the time GM launched its operations in Brazil, the country was the world's largest exporter of coffee, rubber, and cocoa. In a modest rented warehouse in São Paulo, GM began assembling Chevrolets with parts imported from the U.S., including one revolutionary feature: an electric self-starter, eliminating the need for cranking the engine. This was cutting-edge technology in a country on the cusp of urbanization.

GM steadily expanded its presence in the country, opening new factories and offering a diverse range of vehicles that become vital to Brazil's growth. GM didn't just bring cars to the streets - it brought mobility to the people, progress to the cities, and a spark of industrialization. By the 1950s, GM Brazil was deepening its roots in the country, establishing design and tech centers, and even creating a proving ground for testing Chevrolet vehicles specifically designed for the Brazilian market.

GM Brazil pioneered innovations later adopted throughout the company, including the first Chevrolet crew-cab pickup, the first bi-fuel engine, and the revolutionary flex-fuel engine, powered by both gasoline and ethanol. GM Brazil was behind the creation of the Meriva minivan for Europe, and the Hummer H3T for the U.S. GM Brazil also had a play in motorsports, developing the Coopersucar Formula-1 car driven by the Brazilian racer Emerson Fittipaldi in the late 1970s.

'Brazil is Chevrolet's third-largest market worldwide and GMB is undergoing its most transformative era yet,' says Santiago Chamorro, president of GM South America. 'Our focus is on vehicles and operations that are smarter, more connected, and more sustainable.'

In line with GM's zero crashes, zero emissions, zero congestion vision, GM Brazil recently announced new investments to continue expanding its business, which in 2024 produced more than 350,000 vehicles. With more than 14,000 employees, GM Brazil is committed to diversifying its portfolio and strengthening its position in hybrid and electric vehicles. This is even more significant now, as Brazil stands as a global leader in renewable energy sources, making GM's future there even brighter.

Over time, GM has impacted the lives of generations of Brazilians, with iconic Chevrolet models, including the 3100 Brasil pickup, the Opala SS coupe, and the Onix hatchback. Since inception, GM Brazil has produced nearly 20 million vehicles, 20% of the total output of the Brazilian automotive industry.

GM's influence extends beyond cars. It helped popularize Frigidaire refrigerators in the country (GM sold the Frigidaire business in 1979); supported Brazil's defense during World War II, producing, trucks, ambulances, artillery trailers, fuel tanks, field kitchen equipment and other gear; and during the Covid-19 pandemic adapted its operations to produce life-saving equipment and masks.