Sodium could be the new miracle element of electric cars

In the recent edition of the Future Mobility event held in the capital of São Paulo, hybrids and electrics, connectivity, sustainability and innovation were the subject of in-depth discussions. It brought together manufacturers, suppliers, technology companies and experts who informed and debated solutions for the coming years.

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One of the most interesting topics was presented by consultant Murilo Briganti, chief operating executive of Bright Consulting. He drew attention to the gradual disappearance of the so-called popular car. New regulatory requirements for safety items, as well as energy efficiency to reduce fuel consumption and emissions, have made cars more expensive.

On the other hand, the supply of new vehicles and Chinese brands increased, which put downward pressure on prices. Briganti predicts increasingly fierce competition and by 2030 Chinese products, imported or locally produced, could increase their market share to 30%.

Also in his assessment, different technologies will coexist at least in the medium term. This includes flex-fuel, semi-hybrid, full and plug-in hybrid engines, as well as electric-only vehicles. Thus, the consumer will have alternatives compatible with different usage profiles.

At another event, the Energy Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Israeli electrochemistry expert Doron Aubarch drew attention to sodium batteries. “In addition to the fact that we will never have a shortage of sodium, this is an alternative to lithium. China represents a major breakthrough with lithium, but other countries need a local industry,” he added.

Sodium batteries have a lower risk of fire and operate best in positive or negative temperature extremes. However, they deliver lower energy density. Its price should match those of lithium next year.

Almost 60% already use AI when buying cars in Brazil

The data is from Google and presented during the recent Anfavea Visions 2026 seminar. In the survey, 57% reported that they use artificial intelligence (AI) tools in the process of choosing the brand and type of vehicle. This ends up lengthening the time until the final decision. Organizing information and comparing options for greater access to the entire universe of offers encourage consumers to advance in research before choosing. While another 30% call on the AI to compare manufacturers and models, 13% admit to transferring part of the decision to the AI itself.

Here we are among the world’s markets most receptive to this change. Another survey, this time Google/Ipsos with 21,000 people in 21 countries, had indicated that 54% of Brazilians used generative AI in 2024, above the global average of 48%. There are also 65% positive perception of the technology and 60% believe in economic gains associated with its advancement.

Experts predict that the next step will come with AI agents capable of autonomously performing tasks for the user from the purchase process to the after-sales. Connected vehicles will help, as they will send data directly to manufacturers and dealerships.

But not everything is rosy. Ford has just hired 350 senior engineers for its technical staff in the U.S. According to Bloomberg, they arrived to correct problems caused by artificial intelligence, which caused billions of dollars in losses to the manufacturer.

As for transportation by apps, the Brazilian company Machine, a specialist in mobility alternatives and deliveries, indicates that five brands dominate about 80% of trips: Chevrolet (20.94%), Volkswagen (19.08%), Fiat (18.40%), Hyundai (11.66%) and Renault (9.53%).

GWM confirms the second plant in Brazil

In the city of Aracruz, 80 km from Vitória, capital of Espírito Santo, GWM’s second plant will be built. The Chinese company has been producing here since August 2025 at the facilities acquired from Mercedes-Benz, which stopped production in December 2020. From there come the H6 and H0 SUVs and the Poer pickup. The brand did not inform the total to invest in the state of Espírito Santo, nor all the products chosen. However, there is confirmation of at least one model: the Ora 5 electric SUV, launched last month.

The new industrial facility in an area of 1.7 million m² provides for the production of combustion vehicles (certainly with flex-fuel engines), hybrids and electrics. The new investment is part of the R$ 10 billion that the brand has reserved for Brazil over 10 years (until 2032) and will generate 9,000 direct and indirect jobs. The chosen location is strategic because it is in one of the largest logistics and port hubs, which houses the first privately owned Export Processing Zone in the country, inaugurated in July 2023. GWM will then have competitive conditions to export to the main markets in Latin America: Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Colombia and Mexico.

In January of this year, the manufacturer had already announced negotiations with the state government and now, just six months later, it has agreed on the second investment that may exceed the previously planned total of R$ 10 billion, depending on the growth of the Brazilian market.