Audi resumes car production in Paraná factory

Audi resumed production at the São José dos Pinhais plant, in Paraná, which is part of the Volkswagen group’s industrial complex.

The official reopening took place this Wednesday (29), but the vehicles began to be assembled a week ago. There are 200 employees at the unit.

R$ 100 million were invested to reactivate the line, which now produces the Q3 and Q3 Sportback SUVs.

The cars have a 2.0 turbo engine (231 hp) and four-wheel drive. The transmission is automatic, with eight gears. Prices start from R$ 316 thousand.

The plant in Paraná has the capacity to produce 4,000 cars a year, in two shifts. For now, all units will be aimed at the domestic market, and the brand expects to assemble 1,500 units by the end of this year.

Although they are considered national cars —the engraving of the chassis is done in the country—, the components of the Q3 are imported. In a note, the automaker explains that the models arrive at the Port of Paranaguá divided into sets of parts and parts from the factory in Györ, Hungary.

This system is called SKD (Semi Knock Down), which means that vehicles come to Brazil partially assembled. The method reduces the Import Tax rate from 35% to 18%. The bodies are already painted.

Brazilian production had been interrupted at the end of 2020. At the time, Audi announced that it would only resume the local assembly of its cars if it received the tax credits withheld by the government.

The amount, however, has not yet been paid. It is estimated that the German automaker has R$ 200 million to receive. “We have to understand the moment the world lives in, but there is a positive indication that we will have a legal device [para receber o valor retido]”, says Antonio Calcagnotto, director of institutional affairs and sustainability at Audi do Brasil.

This is Audi’s third production cycle in Brazil. The first took place between 1999 and 2006, with the assembly of the medium hatch A3.

Years later, with the Inovar-Auto program, the automaker assembled the A3 Sedan in São José dos Pinhais. That period lasted from 2015 to 2020 and included the assembly of the past generation of the Q3.

Although the models now made in Brazil are powered by gasoline, the brand also confirmed an investment of R$ 20 million in the installation of charging points for electric cars.

Audi sells models of the e-Tron line in the country, in coupe and SUV versions. All are 100% electrically powered.

The journalist traveled at the invitation of Audi do Brasil