

The production of motor vehicles in May was 166.7 thousand units, representing a 26.8% decrease compared to May of last year and a 24.9% drop compared to April.
Year-to-date production decreased by 1.7% compared to the same period in 2023. These data were released by the National Association of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (Anfavea).
Car production totaled 129.2 thousand units in May, a 26.2% decrease from the same month last year. Year-to-date production fell by 4.3% compared to the same period in 2023, with a 22.8% decrease compared to April of this year.
For light commercial vehicles, production in May was 23.6 thousand units, showing decreases in all comparison bases: 44.4% compared to May 2023, 41.3% compared to April this year, and 0.7% year-to-date.
Conversely, truck production exceeded 50 thousand units this year, with a 30% increase compared to the first five months of 2023 and a 33.1% rise from May of last year. The production of over 12 thousand buses in the period was the best cumulative result for the segment since 2015.
Vehicle production
Total vehicle sales, including domestic and imported, reached 194.3 thousand units, a 12% decrease from April but a 10% increase from May 2023. Year-to-date, 929.7 thousand units were registered, a growth of 15% compared to the first five months of 2023.
According to Anfavea, this was the best May in average daily sales since 2019, with 9,250 units registered per day, despite a 64% decrease in Rio Grande do Sul, representing 5% of the national market, and the extended holiday at the end of the month.
Anfavea also highlighted the growth of imports as a concern for the Brazilian automotive sector. From January to May, 159.355 thousand imported units were registered, 44 thousand more than the same period in 2023, a 37.8% increase.
Chinese electric and hybrid models, which have lower import taxes compared to other vehicles, accounted for 82% of this import growth.
Exports
However, exports continue to fall short of expectations. In May, 26.8 thousand units were exported, a 41.4% decrease from May of last year and a 2.1% drop compared to April this year.
From January to May, 136.3 thousand units were exported, a 29.7% decline compared to the same period last year when 193.8 thousand units were exported.
Regarding direct employment in motor vehicle factories, the number reached 103,299 in May, an increase of 1.3 thousand jobs compared to April and 3.1 thousand compared to May 2023.
“This is the highest level since November 2022, indicating the first positive impacts of investments announced by manufacturers since last year,” evaluated Anfavea President Márcio de Lima Leite. According to him, the automotive chain has the potential to generate ten indirect jobs for each direct position.