President Lula visits the São Paulo International Auto Show

São Paulo - President Lula visited yesterday (29) the largest and most important automotive event in Latin America, the São Paulo International Auto Show. The “Salão do Automóvel” as it is known locally, reflects the evolution of auto manufacturing in Brazil, as well as the considerable weight the sector projects into the country’s economy. The biennial event is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Coincidently, not too long ago, President Lula celebrated the half-a-century existence of the Metal Worker’s Union in São Bernardo do Campo (the cradle of the auto manufacturing industry in Brazil), which he once led and that served as a springboard for his phenomenal political career.

President Lula was escorted through the show by the leaders of the industry; was presented with a Hybrid Ford Fusion by the Ford Motor Company Brazil; he then concluded his almost 2-hour-visit  with a press interview, with  journalists eager to hear mostly about the presidential election which will be held tomorrow (31).

The São Paulo Auto Show is displaying thirty-six brands, of which seven are Chinese. Brazil has become the world’s fourth-largest market (after China, the U.S. and Japan), with 3.4 million units forecast for this year

A staggering number of models is on display, such as the Leaf EV and the Honda FCX, the Toyota Prius, while Ford exhibited its Fusion Hybrid to be soon locally marketed. The Italian automaker Fiat unveiled the locally made Bravo as the replacement for the Stilo. Fiat presented to the public the Fiat’s  Mio Concept and the Uno Concept Cabrio.

Promoter Reed Exhibitions Alcantara Machado espects a record of more than 650,000 people from October 27 to November 7. Created in 2007, the company is the result of a joint venture between the word’s major trade show organizer (Reed Exhibitions) and the biggest Latin American counterpart (Alcantara Machado). It organizes more than 30 trade shows of a significant variety of industry segments, and has as main purpose propel business, bring to Brazil international events and establish new partnerships.