BMW confirms new investment cycle in Brazil – Time Machines

BMW announced on Thursday (18) that it will make a new investment in the Araquari (SC) plant. R$ 500 million will be applied between 2022 and 2024 for the production of the X3 and X4 SUVs, in addition to a model that is yet to be unveiled in Germany.

The versions produced in Brazil will have a combustion engine, highlighting the 3.0 turbo (387 hp) of the X4 M40i. Electrical options must come imported.

With the new contribution, the national unit will accumulate R$ 1.8 billion in investments since the beginning of operations, in 2014.

The German brand announced the national production of cars in October 2012. The company had already decided to assemble cars in the country, but confirmation was only communicated after the Inovar-Auto program was established.

The industrial policy of the time encouraged the installation of factories through tax incentives and energy efficiency targets.

The first model was the Series 3 sedan, which has had just over 25 thousand units manufactured in Araquari since 2014.

The announcement made by BMW now confirms the return on investment in the automotive sector, despite the difficulties caused by the global shortage of electronic components.

Earlier this month, Volkswagen presented a new cycle in the country, made with local capital. R$ 7 billion will be invested between 2022 and 2026 in the development of a new family of compact cars.

The first will be the new Polo Track, a more affordable version of the hatch with confirmed production for the factory in Taubaté (São Paulo countryside).

Renault also confirmed that it will make an investment in the country to renew its product line – with a focus on bigger and more expensive models –, but the amount has not yet been revealed.