Santiago Chamorro, President of GM in South America, stated that the Mover program revitalized the industry by integrating environmental goals, innovation, and competitiveness. He mentioned that the current industrial policy provides predictability and has opened up space for investments like Pace’s. ‘The government accelerated investments and created security for projects like this to leave the drawing board. The challenge now is to turn this into competitive production and solidify Brazil as a reference in sustainable mobility.’
Electric vehicle hub
Closed by Ford in 2021, the former Troller production line remained inactive for three years until transferred to the Ceará government in 2024. The space was later taken over by Comexport to establish a factory open to various automakers, focusing on electric and hybrid vehicles.
Rodrigo Teixeira, Vice President of Pace, mentioned that this is the first phase of the project, led with 100% national capital. He highlighted that the initial investment was $400 million to reactivate, expand, and modernize the facilities, inaugurated in 1995.
‘Where there were only slightly over a thousand combustion vehicles produced annually, we will now be able to produce 10,000 sustainable vehicles every 12 months. We acquired technologies and also developed our own, Brazilian technologies. We will continue firmly on this journey of producing national parts and components.’
Research and development investment
Teixeira also stated that Pace will invest $500,000 in research and development in Ceará, focusing on creating proprietary technologies and expanding the national content of vehicles produced in the hub. He noted that the initial vehicles already have enough national content to meet the requirements of the Mover program, which encourages green mobility in the country.
‘We are looking from Horizonte to other horizons. This hub will be expanded and built with complete responsibility. We are already working on new assembly line structures, setting up a supplier park, and establishing a technological hub. There are over 2 million m² available for expansion.’
Manufacturing partnerships
When speaking to O Povo newspaper, Teixeira ruled out the possibility of a Chinese automaker joining the production hub but confirmed negotiations with companies with ‘a long history in Brazil.’ The announcement confirms a move that UOL Cars had previously reported: GM was looking for a competitive hub to kick off its high-volume electric strategy. Ceará offers extended tax incentives until 2032 and strategic logistics via Porto do Pecém, essential for receiving Spark kits and potentially exporting part of the production.
National electric cars by GM
The Spark EUV is the first model assembled in Horizonte but was already on sale in Brazil for $159,990, still imported from China. The GM does not foresee a price change after local assembly. Designed as the brand’s entry-level electric model, it aims for volume and competitiveness against Chinese brands.
The model has a range of 258 km in the Inmetro cycle, a 102 hp motor, and is equipped with a 42 kWh battery. The second electric car from GM to be produced in Ceará, the Captiva EV, is a medium-sized SUV with 4.74 m in length and 2.80 m in wheelbase.
Recently launched, the model starts at $199,990 in Brazil. It delivers 201 hp, 31.6 kgfm of torque, and a range of 304 km. *Trip at the invitation of General Motors.
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