It will have a research center in Rio de Janeiro focused on the development of autonomous cars, which run without the need for drivers. The laboratory, which will also feature a test track that resembles a mini race track, will be located on land at Tom Jobim International Airport. The announcement was made on Saturday at the City Palace (Botafogo) by the international president of BYD, Wang Chuanfu and mayor Eduardo Paes.
— All research and development of autonomous vehicles will be here in Rio de Janeiro. The investment is completely private. This is an old relationship. That area is close to quality institutions such as Coppe and the Fundão Technological Park. And it is part of the strategy to develop Galeão — said Eduardo Paes.
Also read:
In 2023, the automaker even announced that the research center would be installed in Salvador. But, in March this year, during an inaugural class at Coppe/UFRJ, Paes said that he opened negotiations with the company for the project to be carried out in Rio. Between 2017 and 2020, when he left city hall, Paes worked as a BYD representative in Latin America.
According to Stella Lee, BYD’s vice president for the international market, in addition to the research center, the automaker will also have an area focused on developing flex fuel for the Brazilian industry. The executive did not disclose the deadline for opening the research center.
Also read:
Continues after advertising
— He (the mayor) knows our technology. And convinced us to bring all the Research & Development here. Thus, we will optimize Rio with BD, one of the most important places for research and development.
Last Thursday, the automaker had already opened its first electric car factory in Camaçari, in the metropolitan region of Salvador (Bahia). The automaker’s investment was R$5.5 billion and should produce up to 600,000 cars per year, with exports to other Latin American countries as one of its main markets. The Brazilian plant is the automaker’s largest outside an Asian country.
