In January, the automotive industry saw a drop in vehicle production and sales. The data was released this Friday (6) by the National Association of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers.
Production fell 12% compared to the same month last year and 13.5% compared to December, with 159.6 thousand units produced.
Sales fell 0.4% compared to January 2025 and 39% compared to December, with 170.5 thousand licensed vehicles. For Anfavea, the volume sold in January was “practically stable” in the annual comparison due to one less business day in 2026.
Among vehicles sold, automobiles registered an increase of 1.4% in the annual comparison, while light commercial vehicles increased by 3%. Among heavy vehicles, registrations decreased in January. Bus sales fell 33.9% and truck sales fell 31.5%.
One of the highlights among licensing is electrified vehicles, which now account for 16.8% of total sales, a record for the sector. According to the entity, 35% of these electrified vehicles are produced in the country.
“It is the best percentage in the historical series. We had approximately registration of more than 27 thousand units and 9.6 thousand of this total were produced here in Brazil”, said Igor Calvet, president of Anfavea.
Exports, in turn, fell 18.3% compared to the same month in 2025, with 25.9 thousand units exported. According to Anfavea, the drop was mainly influenced by the 5% drop in shipments to Argentina. Compared to December, there was an increase of 38.3%.
“This was driven by a 5% reduction in Argentine demand. This is something that Anfavea continues to pay attention to, as it could signal a slowdown in demand from the neighboring country, one of Brazil’s main automotive trading partners,” said Calvet.
Programs
In a press conference held today, the president of Anfavea celebrated the fact that the government had not extended the tax exemption for the import of disassembled vehicle kits, which expired in January. One of the companies that benefited from this exemption was the Chinese automaker BYD, which operates in Brazil mainly in the SKD model, in which the vehicle is imported almost ready-made, with simpler local assembly and less industrial complexity.
“I celebrate this because I believe that non-extension stimulates local production. By not extending we are all on the path to sophisticating our production, internalizing and generating more jobs here. This is a position in defense of national production”, he highlighted.
As for the Sustainable Carwhich eliminates the Tax on Industrialized Products (IPI) for entry-level cars manufactured in the country with high energy efficiency and sustainability, Calvet said he does not see the possibility of this program being renewed by the government.
“The Sustainable Car program was an important driver of demand for light vehicles in the country”, he said, remembering that the program reached 282 thousand registered units, a number 22% higher than when the program did not yet exist. “But I don’t believe that the program will be extended because it is anchored in the IPI and the IPI has an end date because we will have tax reform starting in 2027,” said Calvet.
Now about the Move Brazil which offers credit for the purchase of trucks, the president of Anfavea said he expected impacts in the coming months. “We hope that the results of the program can already be seen in February and March. The program has everything it needs to be a success.”
