GM negotiates with federal government to import larger vehicles to Brazil

General Motors has asked the Brazilian government for the country to accept the North American technical standard for vehicle homologation. The change would pave the way for the import of pickup trucks and large SUVs manufactured in the United States, currently barred by national legislation. The information was published by the GM Authority website.

According to Fábio Rua, vice president of Public Policy, Communication and ESG at GM South America, the company has already submitted the request to regulators in Brasilia and cites Chile and Uruguay as examples of countries that already recognize the US standards. “If Brazil starts to accept a standard and give this horizontality in the regulatory issue, you are able to bring American cars here,” the executive told Estadão. The company estimates to import about 3,000 vehicles per year if the election goes ahead, especially pickup trucks.

Where the two standards diverge

In Brazil, a model only receives the Certificate of Adequacy to Traffic Legislation (CAT), issued under Contran rules, after proving performance in tests by laboratories accredited by Inmetro. This set of requirements was built based on UN regulations (UNECE), the same adopted by Europe. The United States, on the other hand, follows the FMVSS standards, in which the manufacturer itself self-certifies before NHTSA, the country’s traffic agency.

The divergence appears in specific chapters: the impact tests use different protocols, such as in which the European uses a deformable barrier with partial overlap, while the American favors a full frontal collision, including with dolls without belts. In lighting, US cars usually have red rear arrows, combined with the brake light, while the Brazilian standard requires the color amber.

And, in emissions, Proconve L7 and L8 are mirrored in Euro 6, not in the limits of the American EPA — not counting Brazilian gasoline, with 27% ethanol, which requires specific calibration. The approximation already exists in part: Contran Resolution 970/2022 accepts tests carried out under FMVSS as an alternative in the lighting chapter.

The models that fell by the wayside

The most cited case is that of the Cadillac Escalade: the SUV up to 5.76 m long was certified only according to FMVSS and was left out of the brand’s relaunch in Brazil, made with the Optiq, Lyriq and Vistiq electric vehicles, individually homologated. Rua also points to the legislation as an obstacle to bringing back GMC, with the Sierra 2500 and 3500 diesel pickups.

In the past, Camaro and Bolt EV arrived because they met the standards of European origin, and the current Silverado is imported from Mexico in an exclusive configuration for the Brazilian market.

The request adds to another move by GM reported by the global press: to take Buick to Brazil from China. Under the new SAIC-GM plan, whose contract was renewed until 2047, the joint venture will export electrified vehicles to selected markets, including South America.