But not everyone is cheering its arrival. BYD, China's top producer of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, is offering Brazilian car shoppers relatively low-priced options in a market where the green-car movement is still in its infancy.

Brazilian auto-industry officials and labour leaders worry that the vast influx of cars from BYD and other Chinese automakers will set back domestic auto production and hurt jobs.

BYD has deployed a growing fleet of cargo ships to accelerate its expansion overseas, with Brazil becoming its top target, according to Reuters analysis of shipping data and company statements.

The late-May shipment was the fourth of the Chinese carmaker’s ships to dock in Brazil this year, totaling around 22 000 vehicles, according to Reuters calculations.

BYD, the world’s top producer of electric and plug-in hybrid cars, is the largest among several Chinese brands targeting Brazil for growth. China-built vehicle imports are expected to grow nearly 40% this year, to about 200 000, according to Brazil’s main auto association. That would account for roughly 8% of total light-vehicle registrations.

--Reuters--