BNDES raises funding ceiling for app drivers and taxi drivers to 200 thousand reais

The financing ceiling of BNDES Move Drivers rose from R$ 150 thousand to R$ 200 thousand, considering the value of the vehicle’s invoice. The change has been in effect since Tuesday (1st) and was authorized by a joint ordinance of the Ministries of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services and Finance, published on August 19 in an extra edition of the Official Gazette of the Union.

The payment term has also been extended, from 72 to 84 months, including a grace period of up to six months. The rates remain unchanged: up to 11.5% per year for women and up to 12.6% per year for other drivers and cooperatives, values that already include the remuneration of the BNDES and the spread of financial agents.

Ceiling is not the amount released

The distinction matters. BNDES can finance up to 100% of the items that can be financed, but who defines the percentage effectively released is the financial institution that transfers the funds to the end customer. In other words, the new limit expands the menu of eligible cars, not the credit granted to each driver.

According to Fenabrave’s 2025 registrations, the share of car sales that fits only the price criterion would go from about 63% to 88% of the market. The bank itself points out that the number is not a projection of operations and does not eliminate the need to comply with the other requirements of the program.

The ordinance also changed the rules for electrified vehicles. “The criteria for qualifying hybrids have been revised,” said Maria Fernanda Coelho, director of Digital Credit for MSMEs at BNDES, explaining that all models that combine an electric motor and a combustion engine powered by ethanol, gasoline or both are now valid. A survey based on the 2026 Brazilian Vehicle Labeling Program points to energy consumption about 24% lower than equivalent conventional versions, with variation according to model, engine and version.

Automakers rush to join the list

The practical effect appeared quickly. With the higher roof, the program started to reach SUVs, pickup trucks and electrified vehicles that were previously left out, and brands moved to include versions: BYD placed King, Song Pro, Song Pro Flex and Atto 2; Renault expanded the offer of the Boreal; GM asked for the inclusion of the Captiva EV, from R$ 199.990; and Honda requested the turbo versions of the HR-V.

It is worth remembering that taxi drivers and app drivers do not receive the same benefits. The taxi driver adds to the subsidized credit the exemption of IPI and ICMS on the purchase, which brings down the final price. The platform driver only has the reduced rate — hence the difference of tens of thousands of reais in the same car, depending on who buys.

Since the creation of the line, BNDES has already approved R$ 2.2 billion in financing for the renewal of the fleet of the two categories. To apply for credit, the driver or cooperative registers on the Move Brasil platform and, if qualified after checking the requirements, looks for an accredited concessionaire or financial institution.