Herlander Zola, President of Stellantis South America, acknowledged that the Western automotive industry failed to quickly grasp the vertically integrated production model adopted by China. This model resulted in significantly lower costs and facilitated subsequent global exports, he reported in a recent interview.
While the United States and the European Union implemented tariff barriers, Brazil was slow to assimilate the implications of this. Zola suggested that the solution does not lie solely in increasing import taxes, proposing alternatives such as incentivizing manufacturers to purchase steel, tires, plastics, and other components from established domestic suppliers. He warned that if no measures are taken, it would be preferable to manufacture cars in China, disassemble them, and bring them to Brazil, emphasizing the need to create stimulus rules.
The president added that the Federal Government has yet to realize that taxing the import of Completely Knocked Down (CKD) or Semi Knocked Down (SKD) vehicles at 35% constitutes an insufficient barrier. The US and the EU responded with much higher rates, aiming to protect local jobs, exceeding the former World Trade Organization standard that limited the maximum rate to 35%. Chinese brands, meanwhile, export with strong government support, without transparency regarding real labor costs or subsidies. However, under European pressure, they have already begun setting up factories on the continent and potentially in the US, if permitted.
Zola also addressed the growing adoption of electric models in the Brazilian market. He admitted that in certain states, those who acquire a combustion engine vehicle need to receive some form of benefit. He cited, as an example, the total and indefinite exemption of IPVA for electric cars in Pernambuco, mentioning that other states have also offered incentives. Specifically in São Paulo, electric and hybrid vehicles (including semi-hybrids) are exempt from license plate rotation.
One of the models presented is the REEV (Extended Range Electric Vehicle), which offers advantages in performance, silence, and lack of vibrations, without the concern of long charging breaks. In this system, the internal combustion engine (ICE) serves solely to power the generator that charges the battery, without direct mechanical connection to the wheels. The new Leapmotor B10 Ultra-Hybrid, belonging to the Stellantis group, complements the 100% electric (BEV) version launched almost a year ago.
The main advantage of the REEV system is its simplicity, as it eliminates the gearbox and the complex synchronization technology found in traditional or plug-in hybrids, providing a driving experience similar to that of purely electric vehicles. In the B10 REEV, traction is provided exclusively by a 218 hp rear electric motor and 24.5 kgfm of torque, ensuring acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in about 7.8 seconds. Its 18.8 kWh LFP battery allows for 68 km of travel in 100% electric mode, according to the Inmetro standard.
When necessary, the 1.5L gasoline front motor-generator (four cylinders, Atkinson cycle, 88 hp and 12.7 kgfm) operates to generate energy. With a 50-liter tank, the consumption recorded by Inmetro is 13.5 km/l in urban use and 12.3 km/l on highways, resulting in considerable ranges of 675 km and 615 km, respectively. Although the European WLTP cycle promises up to 900 km, this estimate should not be considered reliable.
In a basic 63 km test, combining city and highway, the nature of the B10 REEV became clear: the dynamic is that of a full electric vehicle, with instantaneous power delivery and smooth driving. The intervention of the ICE is discreet, as it only functions to drive the generator, causing its rotation to vary according to the car's speed, which avoids the constant noise common in other hybrid systems. The driver assistance systems (ADAS, Level 2) demonstrated good calibration and efficiency, although the elimination of physical controls for vital functions requires the driver to navigate the multimedia center, such as when adjusting the air conditioning, thus diverting their attention.
The price of this model is quite competitive, set at R$ 179,990.