Brazil’s car production dropped by 99.4pc to 1,847 cars in April from 267,600 units in the same period last year, due to temporary shutdowns of car manufacturing plants to contain the spread of COVID-19.
Car sales also fell by 76pc to 55,700 units in April, compared 231,936 cars sold during the same month in 2019, according to Brazil’s Association of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (Anfavea).
Car exports during the month plunged to their lowest since 1997, according to Anfavea, decreasing by 79.3pc to 7,212 units, compared to 34,905 cars exported during the same period in 2019.
Brazil’s automotive industry has a total inventory of around 237,000 units at present. The current inventory could cover around four months of sales if they continue at a slow pace, Anfavea indicated. In 2019, Brazil’s car output rose by 2.3pc to 2.94mn cars.
Carmakers Toyota and GM Brazil announced in April that they had suspended auto production at their plants until June 22.