Chinese carmaker BYD this week began selling its first Brazilian-produced plug-in hybrid that accepts flex fuels, following a two-year development program backed by an investment of 100 million reais. The vehicle, named the Song Pro Super-Hibrido Flex Fuel, goes on sale across dealerships in Brazil on Wednesday, company Senior Vice President Alexandre Baldy said in an interview.
Built at BYD’s Camacari factory in the northeastern state of Bahia, the model is designed to run on three power sources - electricity, gasoline and ethanol. Baldy said the electric-only driving range differs by trim: the GL model delivers 60 km (37 miles) while the higher-end GS version provides 120 km of electric range.
BYD highlighted that the new model supports the company’s local content objective. Baldy said the automaker expects all vehicles manufactured in Brazil to incorporate more than 50% local parts by January 2027. The Camacari plant is already sourcing items such as tires domestically and will produce batteries on site, according to Baldy. The factory first opened in October 2025.
Development of the Song Pro Super-Hibrido Flex Fuel was a joint effort between research and development teams in Brazil and China, Baldy added, characterizing the effort as a project tailored specifically for the Brazilian market. He described the car as highly symbolic for BYD, marking a first collaboration of that nature between the two R&D groups.
The company’s presence in Brazil is shifting from initial assembly of semi-knocked-down units toward expanded local manufacturing. Baldy said this strategy responds both to Brazilian regulatory requirements and BYD’s ambition to make Brazil a regional export hub. While the vehicle is aimed at Brazilian consumers, Baldy noted the Song Pro Flex could eventually be marketed in other countries, including India, if ethanol fuel adoption grows.
BYD is directing significant capital to its Camacari facility. The company is investing 5.5 billion reais in the plant and anticipates production of about 180,000 cars this year. Baldy estimated the factory will likely supply roughly 150,000 of the approximately 200,000 vehicles BYD aims to sell in Brazil in 2026.
Sales momentum in Brazil has accelerated recently. July marked the company’s strongest month in the country, with the Dolphin GS leading retail sales at 5,861 units, BYD said. Total sales for the month reached 23,465 vehicles, more than double the 9,680 sold in July of the prior year, positioning BYD fourth in the Brazilian market with a 9.1% share.
Methodology note - This article reports comments and figures provided by BYD executives and the company’s disclosed sales and production targets.