In Brazil, automobiles with engines that can use more than one type of fuel are taking over from automobiles with gasoline-powered engines.
In July, flex-fuel automobiles accounted for 58% of the 138.7 thousand cars sold in Brazil. The figures were released last week by the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers (Anfavea).
During the first half of the year, 381.16 thousand flex-fuel vehicles were sold, more than in the entire year of 2004. They represented 42% of the total number of automobiles licensed in Brazil in the January-June period.
Exclusively gasoline-powered cars, which accounted for 68.3% of total sales in July, 2004, saw their market share reduced to 35.6% in July of this year. They represented 51% of overall sales in the first half of the year.
According to the president of the Anfavea, Rogélio Golfarb, production is accompanying the growth of sales in this segment. Last year only 20.2% of the country’s total production of 1.57 million automobiles had flex-fuel engines. Most of the production (66.3%) corresponded to gasoline-powered cars.
Agência Brasil