Chinese giant will use the industrial complex in Resende (RJ) to manufacture the Box hatch and the Vigo SUV, aiming at competition with BYD and Volkswagen
The Chinese giant Dongfeng is expected to enter the Brazilian market with a strategy that avoids the need to build a factory from scratch. According to Jorge Moraes for CNN, later this year, the manufacturer will start its operations in the country using the Nissan complex in Resende (RJ). The maneuver is supported by the global joint venture between the two companies and aims to accelerate the supply of electrified models before new tax changes.
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The arrival of Dongfeng will occupy the idle capacity of the Rio de Janeiro plant, which currently assembles the Kicks SUV and the Versa sedan. The partnership allows for logistical agility and the use of already qualified labor, reducing the project’s maturation time. In the medium term, the operation should transform Resende into a highly complex technological hub, with plans for the production of the Frontier Pro PHEV pickup and the N7 and NX8 electric sedans.
The initial sales phase will be carried out by two strategic models: one of them is the Dongfeng Box, an entry-level hatch arrives with 95 hp and 16,3 kgfm. Equipped with 42.3 kWh batteries, the model reaches 430 km of autonomy (CLTC cycle). The estimated price of R$ 130 puts it on a direct collision course with the BYD Dolphin Mini.
The Dongfeng Vigo is a medium SUV that delivers 130 hp and uses a 51.8 kWh battery, with a range of 470 km (CLTC). The model bets on a robust driving assistance package (ADAS) to compete in the market with the Volkswagen Nivus.
The structuring of the dealership network should be completed in October, taking advantage of the landing of the first imported batches. Dongfeng projects a rapid occupation of the domestic market, challenging not only traditional brands, but also the hegemony of countrywomen already established in the country.
