A Brief Update on Latin America’s EV Manufacturing: Brazil Rises, Mexico Waits, and Smaller Actors Appear on the Radar - CleanTechnica

The article provides an update on the state of electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing in Latin America, highlighting Brazil’s emerging leadership, Mexico’s stalled progress, and the appearance of smaller regional players. While EV sales often dominate headlines, the article emphasizes that local EV manufacturing is critical for sustainable transition and political support. Latin America’s vehicle manufacturing base is significant despite a relatively small market, with Brazil and Argentina benefiting from protected markets and Mexico integrated into North American production chains. Other countries like Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia maintain some local assembly lines, whereas Chile notably exited vehicle production in 2008. Brazil is rising as a key EV manufacturing hub, driven mainly by BYD’s recent launch of the BYD Seagull at its Camaçarí plant, which can produce up to 150,000 units annually with potential expansion. BYD also plans to produce other models such as the Song and King, and is developing ethanol-based plug-in hybrids, signaling a unique regional