Parallel imports can serve as a thermometer for automakers, pointing to the need to bring cars in some niches
Brazilian legislation allows the independent importation of new cars or those over 30 years old. This has created a parallel market with importers, who bring models that are not officially sold here for those who want to have exclusivity.
Sales of independently imported cars can serve as a thermometer for automakers. The Chevrolet Camaro, the Ford Mustang and the large pickup trucks with V8 engines were successful with this audience before they officially came.
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Using 2025 registration data, provided by K.Lume Consultoria, we surveyed the 10 best-selling cars through independent importation. Some were more successful than officially sold cars.
General Motors do Brasil loved to bring the Corvette to the Motor Show and always commented that it was testing the receptivity. The success of the eighth generation in independent importers shows that the manufacturer is wasting time in not bringing it.
The Corvette sold 138 units in 2025, becoming the seventh best-selling sports car in Brazil. It is sold with prices between R$ 1.3 million and R$ 2.2 million, depending on the version. Officially it would be cheaper.
The great appeal of the current Corvette is that it is a mid-engined supercar that costs a third of European rivals. Chevrolet also improved the finish of its sports car in the eighth generation, an old criticism from the public.
Cadillac will finally officially arrive in Brazil in 2026. The General Motors luxury brand is in a process of global expansion, which even includes a Formula 1 team to give visibility.
But the Escalade is not on the list, according to the Autos Segredos portal it will focus on electric cars like the Optiq and the Lyriq. Cadillac’s top-of-the-line SUV has always been among the most popular cars brought by independent importers.
The Cadillac Escalade has a chassis separate from the body and has a shared architecture with the Chevolet Silverado. Currently it is more refined, with independent rear suspension and a giant screen occupying the entire dashboard. Under the hood is the traditional V8 6.2, in an aspirated version or with a supercharger.
The Dodge Challenger is a rival to the Ford Mustang and the Chevrolet Camaro, but it never officially came to Brazil. 2025 was its last year of sales, marked by several special editions, and 83 units of it came to Brazil.
It still follows the old recipe of muscle cars, resembling more of a sports sedan, while rivals try to fight against European models such as the BMW M4. The thousands of different editions of the Hellcat boast over 770 hp and are optimized for drag racing.
The Tesla Cybertruck was the most controversial car of the decade. Underneath the polygonal design is a high-voltage electric platform that abandons the physical link between the steering wheel and the wheels, inside it is minimalist and the body is made of flat stainless steel panels.
In 2025, 23 units came through independent imports. Most of them must already be in the garages of influencers and soccer players.
In 2025 Dodge launched a new electric Charger, with the new STLA L platform.
Despite all the controversy about the electric motorization, 15 people were interested in the car. Or less, since the registrations also consider old cars that were imported.
McLaren’s supercars are often imported independently to Brazil. The Artura, which is part of the brand’s new generation, sold only one unit less than the rival Ferrari 296 GTB.
This sports car uses a new V6 biturbo engine developed in-house by McLaren, which replaces the old V8 that was derived from a Nissan racing engine. It is also plug-in hybrid, being able to run 31 km on electricity alone.
The Chevrolet Suburban is a direct successor to our well-known Veraneio. It is usually imported by people who find the Cadillac Escalade too flashy or by embassies.
As we already have the Silverado officially sold, it would not be difficult to homologate the Suburban. However, the volume of 10 units in the year seems to be discouraging for a manufacturer.
The civilian Hummer was a fever in the 90s and gained a less extreme version with the H2. But it quickly became a joke, for being too big and having exaggerated consumption.
Now it has become an electric pickup, equally giant and heavy. Several units have arrived in Brazil since the launch in 2022, but the number has been falling because of the equally exaggerated Tesla Cybertruck.
The large minivan market in Brazil only has the Kia Carnival as an option through official means. The Chrysler Pacifica came in a considerable quantity, but in 2025 it disappeared and passed the ball to the Toyota Sienna.
This minivan created with a focus on the USA is sold only with a hybrid engine, the same as the RAV4 and the Lexus ES 300h. The price close to R$ 1 million of one at importers makes the Kia Carnival look like a bargain.
The Toyota Land Cruiser is a global success and sold by the brand in practically all markets where it operates, except Brazil. The SUV has from simple versions for work to luxury models, all with a lot of robustness and off-road capability.
These 6 units registered in 2025 may have all come through embassies. Several countries have Land Cruiser fleets for various official uses.
