The BYD factory in Camacari Brazil was set to become a symbol of economic revival. After Ford Motor Co. left Camacari in 2021, locals hoped BYD’s arrival would restore jobs and confidence in the region’s future. For a city once reliant on Ford, BYD’s plans represented a fresh start.
Brazil’s EV market offered the perfect timing. Electric vehicle sales surged 85% in 2024, with BYD dominating the market. In cities like São Paulo and Brasília, BYD now ranks as the best-selling brand—across both electric and combustion engines.
But a scandal in December 2024 shook those hopes. Authorities raided the BYD construction site in Camacari and rescued 163 Chinese workers living in “slavery-like” conditions. Videos revealed dorms without mattresses and makeshift cooking areas. BYD postponed its planned March production launch and has yet to provide a new timeline.
Locals are growing anxious. “When BYD announced it was coming here, it sparked a lot of hope,” said Luizmar Santana Pereira, a former Ford employee now working as a taxi driver. “But so far, we haven’t seen it.”
BYD responded differently depending on the audience. In China, the company called the accusations a “smear campaign” driven by foreign forces. In Brazil, however, it adopted a softer tone, condemned the abuses, and cut ties with the Chinese contractor Jinjiang that employed the workers.
Despite the backlash, BYD remains well-positioned in Brazil. Seven out of 10 EVs sold in the country are BYD models. The brand also leads in hybrid sales, and its expansion reflects its global momentum. In 2024, BYD reported $107 billion in revenue and surpassed Tesla in combined EV and hybrid sales. The company is also building its first European factory in Hungary.
Brazil’s pro-EV policies help drive this growth. Tax breaks, clean air initiatives, and favorable legislation have made the country more attractive for EV manufacturers. Adalberto Maluf, Brazil’s national secretary of Urban Environment and a former BYD executive, said the lack of geopolitical tension with China is a key advantage.
“Brazilians have no geopolitical issues with China,” Maluf explained. “In the U.S., however, it’s part of the president’s rhetoric.”
Still, the project’s future remains murky. Journalists visiting the site in March saw only a few construction workers. BYD restricted press access, citing “trade secrets,” and security guards confronted reporters—some even while brandishing weapons.
Labor unions are now pushing back. Júlio Bonfim, president of the Metalworkers Union, warned that if Chinese labor appears on the production line, workers will strike. “The factory floor must employ only Brazilians,” he insisted.
The region, however, is already changing. A former Ford dealership now co-hosts a BYD reseller. Local hotels now distribute guides to Chinese visitors. A state lawmaker even proposed renaming Henry Ford Avenue to BYD Avenue.
Despite recent setbacks, the BYD factory in Camacari Brazil still symbolizes a shifting industrial future. Yet, its success now depends not just on technology or demand—but on trust, transparency, and respect for local labor laws.
