In the pavilion organized by Brasil Auto Parts at the automotive industry’s most traditional fair, 48 exhibiting companies showcased the strength of Brazilian manufacturers.

Brasil Auto Parts (BAP) achieved excellent results in the 2024 edition of Automechanika Frankfurt, the world’s largest aftermarket trade show, which BAP has been attending since 2000. 

The Brazilian Pavilion had a total of 48 exhibitors that networked with 2,185 companies from all over the world: all Latin American countries, in addition to Germany, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Belgium, China, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Spain, United States, France, Greece, India, England, Ireland, Italy, Libya, Morocco, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Tanzania, and Turkey. As a result, they earned revenues of USD 2.9 million in immediate business deals and expect to make an additional USD 14.4 million over the next 12 months.

One of the Trusted Partners that closed a sale during the event was Partium, a manufacturer of steering wheels and engine components. Ariovaldo Capelo, the company’s sales manager, said that an Argentinean importer approached him in search of a specific product that they used to purchase from a competitor. And the fact that Partium was inside the Brazilian pavilion increased his confidence in closing the deal. “BAP not only strengthens the image of the Brazilian auto parts industry, but also supports business events like this one to help us find potential buyers from all over the world,” said Capelo.

Another BAP member that was happy to exhibit in the Brazilian pavilion was SYL. Formerly an independent exhibitor, the company produces a complete line of brake pads and brake shoes for the automotive market. For Fabio Yukio, SYL’s business manager, suppliers around the world are seeking alternatives to China, which offers a clear advantage to Brazil. “We have made excellent contacts for our business, mostly from South America and the Middle East. Our goal is to increase our exports and take advantage of internationalization opportunities to sell our products”, he said.

The Springs and Stabilizers Department of Germany-based thyssenkrupp, which has two factories in Brazil, also debuted as an exhibitor in the BAP space at Automechanika Frankfurt. Kaique Barion, the company’s Communications Coordinator, saw this trade show as an opportunity to connect to the aftermarket, especially in Latin America. “We are focused on technical sales and guarantee high-quality delivery, as we are the original supplier to automotive manufacturers. We develop our products to meet our customers’ needs, so having skilled, segmented distributors is key to our business strategy,” said Barion.

The organization and new location of the Brazilian pavilion also pleased the exhibitors. The representatives of Vetore - a manufacturer of automotive parts for light, heavy, and agricultural vehicles, whose experience in exports spans for more than 20 years - stressed the importance of the fair and reaffirmed that this type of undertaking always helps them leverage the company’s internationalization strategy. “We’ll certainly be in the next edition in 2026,” said Gustavo Aquino and Marina Aquino.

Adding to Brazil’s outstanding participation in Automechanika Frankfurt, Frasle Mobility, ZM, Gauss, Zen, and MTE-Thomson showcased their products on their own booths. Also, on one of the parallel activities, George Rugitsky, Market Director at Sindipeças, gave a talk at the Brazil Aftermarket Workshop, which was held by the National Association of Auto Parts Distributors (Andap). Rugitsky addressed the potential of the Brazilian market, particularly the promising scenario for business development in the automotive sector.

Compared to the last edition in 2022, 15 more companies joined the pavilion organized by Brasil Auto Parts, a program developed by the National Association of Brazilian Auto Parts Manufacturers (Sindipeças) in partnership with the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) to increase the exports of Brazilian auto parts produced in the country. “We expect to keep growing to further enhance our participation in 2026,” said Fernanda Garavello, BAP’s coordinator.

The next events of the calendar are the the 14th Brasil Auto Parts Business Round, from October 14 to 18, in São Paulo, and the AAPEX Fair, from November 5 to 7, in Las Vegas (USA).

The project has finished mapping priority markets and surveying member companies about their interest in international events.

Brasil Auto Parts has been planning the 2025/2026 biennium. Phase 1, which is completed, consisted in mapping target markets by using market intelligence tools to determine the priority and secondary countries for the project’s activities, as well as surveying member companies about their interest in international events around the world.

Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Nigeria, Panama, South Africa, The United Arab Emirates, and the United States were defined as priorities. BAP’s activities will also focus on five secondary markets: Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Germany, and Peru. 

Particularly focusing on emerging and consolidated markets, the project is aimed at opening new doors for Brazilian companies, as well as promoting innovation, competitiveness, and sustainable growth.

All decisions, from the definition of markets to the choice of events, are taken at collegiate meetings held by BAP’s Management Committee. This governance model ensures that the strategies reflect the actual demands of the sector. This way, the plans are more aligned with the interest of all members and with the best business opportunities for Brazilian manufacturers and clients that purchase products made in Brazil.

“We see these countries and events as great targets for the internationalization of the Brazilian auto parts industry, and we chose them to explore new business opportunities and increase our market share,” said Fernanda Garavello, BAP’s coordinator.

The next steps are budget allocation and approval by ApexBrasil. To keep up with the most updated information, please follow our posts on our social media platforms and visit our website.

The new member companies joined the project in the 2023/2024 biennium to pursue internationalization as a business strategy.

BAP has been bolstered by the addition of 54 new companies over the last two years. There is a total of 182 member companies now. The project, conceived to promote the Brazilian auto parts industry abroad, has grown to become a key player for companies from different segments of the automotive industry that wish to export their products and increase their competitiveness. 

Autotravi, located in Caxias do Sul, in southern Brazil, is a company that sees Brazil Auto Parts as a platform for global expansion. The company has a strong performance in both the OEM and aftermarket segments, especially for buses, and heavy and agricultural vehicles. Eduardo Aver Vanin, CEO at Autotravi, believes that being a member of BAP is a unique opportunity to be better known abroad and exceed export targets. "We can get many benefits by joining the project. After we joined in, we took part in the 2024 editions of Automechanika Buenos Aires and Automechanika Frankfurt as exhibitors, and we believe this is just the beginning of a promising international journey.” Vanin also praised the support offered by the project and the initiatives undertaken by Sindipeças. “When we are on these committees, for example, for aftermarket and innovation, we can be up-to-date about important information and take advantage of key opportunities to grow”, he said.

Mangels, a manufacturer of aluminum wheels, has also returned to Brasil Auto Parts. With this product in line since 1958, the company has already exported to more than 50 countries and now seeks to re-enter the international market, particularly in the aftermarket. “We want to show our power to the world, consolidate our brand abroad, and enter new niche markets through the wide range of opportunities opened up by Brasil Auto Parts”, said Odillon Piassa, the company’s Marketing Specialist. 

Starcast, a Brazilian manufacturer of aluminum components, especially for the automotive sector, is still an indirect exporter, but it is gradually moving a step closer to having its own international customers. The company, which has partnered with Brasil Auto Parts in search of cost-benefit deals, sees internationalization as an opportunity for significant growth. "Our factory is highly automated, so we can offer technical parts at competitive costs. The company has nearly finished setting up an office abroad to streamline international customer service”, said Marcia Lima, Sales Manager at Starcast.

After the arrival of these 54 new companies, BAP is expected to grow much stronger and offer importers a diversified portfolio of Brazilian suppliers. To see all the members of BAP, please visit our website.

Training apprentices, improving quality, and enhancing logistics operations are the tactics adopted by Progeral to build its reputation in the international market.

Progeral is an expert manufacturer of metal clamps, operating in the segments of light commercial vehicles, trucks, buses, agricultural machinery, and motorcycles. According to the company’s representative, internationalization proved to be an excellent strategy for business development. Even though the company had a humble start, it currently has more than 200 employees and a remarkable global presence.

After more than sixty years in the market, Progeral remains a family-run company, serving both the OEM and the aftermarket segments. However, by combining a leading role in the surrounding communities, sustainability, skilled labor training, and efficient logistics, Progeral is now one of the top companies in the sector. On the path to development, the company seeks to keep expanding its operations, while holding on to its values and maintaining its long-established standards of excellence.

Progeral exports 50% of the products made in the factory located in Iperó (in the state of São Paulo) to important markets such as Latin America, North America, and Europe.

To facilitate distribution, the company has bonded warehouses in Germany and the United States. As part of its expansion strategy, Progeral is in the process of establishing a plant in Mexico, aiming to strengthen its presence in North America.

More than ten years ago, Progeral also set up a factory in China, ensuring that markets outside the Americas and Europe are served quickly and efficiently. “This factory plays a key role in supporting out internationalization strategy, allowing the company not only to export its products, but also help develop the local markets where it operates,” said Adjani Oliveira, the company’s Business Development Manager. 

Progeral is proudly committed to the professional development of its employees. The company has a strong partnership with the Ipanema Educational Foundation, to offer training programs to young interns with a view to increasing the quality and commitment of their workforce. In addition, Progeral’s entire production process is powered by renewable energy from hydroelectric plants. As far as quality is concerned, Progeral is certified by the leading international standards in automotive industry management. This way, customers can purchase high-quality products that are manufactured in compliance with ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) principles. 

“We actively participate in platforms, which allows our customers to access detailed information about Progeral’s sustainability practices. The company is proud to have the ‘Silver’ level in the evaluations made by clients, as a recognition of its responsible performance and commitment to the environment, and good governance practices”, said the manager. 

“The company seeks to stand out not only for its high-quality products, but also for its excellent service and delivery, a crucial factor in the sales strategy for large automakers and for the aftermarket,” said Oliveira. 

IATF 16949

The IATF 16949 (International Automotive Task Force) standard is a globally recognized quality certification that defines the requirements for a quality management system applied to the automotive industry. It was published in October 2016, replacing the former standard ISO/TS 16949, which is no longer in effect.

IATF 16949 covers aspects such as security, risk management, contingency planning, embedded software requirements, change management, and vendor control. Its strict criteria are widely accepted by the automotive industry and are required by most manufacturers. Many of our Trusted Partners are IATF 16949-certified, and this is another guarantee for companies purchasing auto parts produced in Brazil.