Polo (VW)

On April 1, Volkswagen began operations at the Port de Vitória (ES), expanding its logistics strategy along Brazil’s coast.

The first shipment included 32 Taos SUVs from Argentina, with another expected in May. Vitória will also receive key future models like the new Jetta GLI from Mexico, part of VW’s plan to launch 16 new vehicles by 2028.

In 2024, Volkswagen imported 33,597 vehicles, a 22% increase over 2023, with 86% from Argentina. The company also uses the ports of Santos (SP), Paranaguá (PR), and Suape (PE). In 2024, it handled over 46,000 vehicles at Paranaguá alone.

The new Vitória operation enhances distribution efficiency across Brazil, especially to states like Minas Gerais and Bahia, reducing long-distance road transport. Local officials praised the state’s infrastructure and favorable business environment.

Volkswagen also saw a 117% rise in exports in early 2025, with 19,368 vehicles shipped, led by the Polo, Saveiro, T‑Cross, and Nivus. Argentina, Mexico, and Chile were top destinations. In 2024, the brand exported 90,142 vehicles to 18 countries, reinforcing its position as Brazil’s top automotive exporter, thanks to strong demand, product success, and an integrated logistics strategy.

(VW Brazil on April 1, 2025)

On March 18, it was announced that Volkswagen has officially discontinued the Polo GTS in Brazil, a model that will be replaced by the Nivus GTS.

The Polo GTS has been removed from the website, and its production ended in November 2024 at the São Bernardo do Campo plant.

The Nivus GTS will take its place as the brand’s new sporty compact SUV. Its series production is expected to begin in March 2025, at the same Anchieta plant. This facility is also set to take on production of the Polo Track, in order to free up space at the Taubaté plant to ramp up manufacturing of the Tera.

The Nivus GTS model is expected to cost around BRL 170,000 and will share the same 1.4-liter turbo 250 TSI engine as the Polo GTS, delivering 150 hp and 25.5 kgfm of torque, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The interior is expected to feature sport-inspired trims with red stitching and carbon-fiber-style finishes.

(Auto Esporte on March 18, 2025)

Baidu Apollo announced that Leapmotor’s LEAP 3.5 technical architecture features its LD (Lane-level Data) map data for debut in the B10 SUV.

Baidu Apollo’s more than 3.6 million kilometers of LD map data covers more than 360 cities, 2,800 districts and counties, and more than 38,000 villages and towns in China, breaking through technical bottlenecks of conventional HD maps in terms of coverage, cost, and dynamic update. By virtue of precise lane-level topology, lane-level properties, and real-time dynamic data update for the entire road network, Baidu Apollo’s LD map data enables Leapmotor’s intelligent driving system to precisely recognize hundreds of complex scenarios. With beyond-visual-range perception capabilities, Baidu Apollo’s LD map data provides efficient lane selection support for intelligent driving systems, reduces errors in system decision-making, and enhances driving safety and intelligent driving experiences. (From a Baidu Apollo press release dated March 17, 2025)