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| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 1953; 72 years ago (1953) |
| Headquarters | , |
Area served | South America |
| Products | Automobiles,pickup trucks,vans |
Number of employees | 22,500 (2013)vw.com.br |
| Parent | Volkswagen Group |
Volkswagen do Brasil Ltda. is a subsidiary arm ofVolkswagen Group, established in 1953 with local assembly of theVolkswagen Type 1, from parts imported from Germany. It produced over 20 million vehicles in Brazil having been market leader for the majority of their more-than-sixty-years in existence. Beginning in 1958, the Type 1 ("Fuscas") had a 24-year run as the number one in sales in Brazil. From 1987 until 2012, theGol was first place in sales.[1]
The Volkswagen assembly plant in Brazil was established after the Brazilian government prohibited the import of fully built-up vehicles in 1953.[2] Its first president wasFriedrich Schultz-Wenk who had emigrated to Brazil in 1950 after a brief stint as a prisoner of war, followed by some time inWolfsburg.[3] Their first plant was inIpiranga, São Paulo and was a strictknock-down kit operation. In two years 2268Fuscas and 552 Kombis were assembled there by hand.[3] AfterJuscelino Kubitschek's import substitution programs began taking effect as Volkswagen was compelled to open a proper factory inSão Bernardo do Campo. Work on the factory began in mid-1957.[4] Originally only theKombi was built locally from September 1957, but from January 1959 the 1200 cc "Fusca" also entered local production, with ever-growing local parts content.[3] In 1959, VW started production at the plant near São Paulo.[5]
Workers have been accusing Volkswagen do Brasil of spying on them starting in the 1970s, which was duringBrazil's military dictatorship from 1964 to 1985.[6] The former employees put accusations on the firm of allowing its workers to be detained and tortured under Brazil's military rule.[7] VW's security personnel informed the political police on eventual oppositional activities. In 1976, mass arrests occurred and some VW employees were tortured. In 1979, Brazilian VW workers traveled to Wolfsburg to inform the CEO in person.[8]
In 2014, the "truth commission" convened by Brazilian PresidentDilma Rousseff found documents that "dozens of companies, including Volkswagen and other foreign automakers, helped the military identify union activists", includingLuiz Inácio Lula da Silva.[9] In subsequent meetings before the São Paulo state commission, VW legal counsel have denied accusations and contested there was no document proving VW had violated human rights.[10]
In 2015, activists and former VW employees in Brazil spoke out in public, accusing the company's silence about the persecution of its workers.[11]
In November 2016, VW commissioned a second expert review of the situation by historian Christopher Kopper ofBielefeld University, which is due end of 2017[11] after its "chief historian Manfred Grieger quit around the same time as Kopper was appointed."[8] Grieger had recommended to donate a memorial for those whose human rights were violated.[5] In the July 2017ARD interview, former VW CEOCarl Hahn denied ever having known of security police activities.[5] The Brazilian attorney general has been investigating.[5] The further investigations concentrated on assumed slavery work at a so-called "Fazenda Volkswagen", a Volkswagen owned cattle farm in ruralAmazonia.[12][13]
By 1961, Volkswagen had surpassedWillys-Overland to become the biggest producer of vehicles in Brazil.[4] Many models were designed especially forBrazil:
From 1971 to 1975 approximately 250 Brazil "kombi" buses were produced with Special Editions, these buses had +8 sky windows, mouldings, timer clock. These buses are called "de luxe," the German name is "Samba."
After 1997 Volkswagen has been the only manufacturer to continue manufacturingethanol powered vehicles after others withdrew.[14]
In 2012, Volkswagen built 852,086 units (including CKD kits), making them the biggest producer in the country and second in sales.[1] Volkswagen operates four plants, inSão Bernardo do Campo,Taubaté,São José dos Pinhais, andSão Carlos. The São Carlos plant only makes engines.[1]
From 1987 to 1995, Volkswagen do Brasil's history was affected by theAutoLatina arrangement betweenFord Motor Company andVolkswagen Group.
From 1979 until 1999, Volkswagen do Brasil created and developed Volkswagen Caminhões Ltda, (theVolkswagen Trucks and Buses division), after which the operation was taken over byVolkswagen Commercial Vehicles. In December 2008, it was announced that Volkswagen Trucks and Buses was to be sold toMAN.[15]
In 1986, Volkswagen entered a deal withPaccar to sell their trucks withPeterbilt orKenworth badging in the United States. This would allow Paccar's dealers to offer Class 7 trucks without having to go the competition.[16] Volkswagen's Latin American trucks had always been built much heavier than elsewhere in the world, where this sector has mainly been the responsibility ofMAN.[17] The Peterbilt-Volkswagen 200 was affectionately known as "Peter Rabbit."[citation needed]
Volkswagen do Brasil operates four factories:[18]
| Location | Opened | Current products |
|---|---|---|
| São Bernardo do Campo | November 18, 1959; 66 years ago (1959-11-18) | Nivus,Virtus,Saveiro |
| São Carlos | October 12, 1996; 29 years ago (1996-10-12) | Engines |
| Taubaté | January 14, 1976; 49 years ago (1976-01-14) | Polo Track,Tera |
| São José dos Pinhais | January 18, 1999; 26 years ago (1999-01-18) | T-Cross |
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