After seven years, the international motor show has a historic comeback
The return of the largest automotive event in Latin America attracts more than 500,000 visitors
The São Paulo International Motor Show registered 516,000 visitors over the ten event days at Distrito Anhembi, marking an impressive return after a seven-year hiatus and confirming the event's central role for the Brazilian automotive sector.
At the event's closing, Igor Calvet, president of Anfavea, summarized the sector's sentiment. “We reached the final day as the 2025 edition deserved, with a full house, satisfied exhibitors and the public wanting more. We surpassed the half-million visitor mark, confirming what we had observed in the corridors of Anhembi: the return of the Motor Show is an absolute success. I now join the thousands of Brazilians who are already eager and counting down to the next edition.”
The opening ceremony brought together authorities, executives and the press, and featured the simultaneous presence of the President and Vice-President of the Republic – an unprecedented event in the history of the event. The following day, Avant Première inaugurated the agenda for the invited public with its new format, which for the first time included a musical performance: an exclusive show by Jota Quest, marking the beginning of the celebration.
Among the most sought-after attractions was the world's largest indoor test drive track, with more than 14,000 sqm, where over 10,000 test drives were conducted without any operational issues. This reinforces the competence of the operation and the public's appetite for real-world driving experiences.
According to Mayra Nardy, portfolio director at RX, the public engagement set the tone for this edition. “It was an exciting rebirth. The public was looking for experiences, for new things, and to rediscover their favorite brands. This new Salon, more immersive, more interactive, and with unprecedented activations, showed that innovation and emotion can go hand in hand. The energy in the corridors, on the tracks, on the stages and in the stands proved that Brazil wanted the Salon back. And we delivered not only the return, but a new level for the event. In 2027, we will be back even stronger.”
Visitors were able to check out more than 300 launches and demonstrations from brands such as BYD, Caoa Changan, Caoa Chery, Citroën, Denza, Fiat, GAC, Geely, GWM, Honda, Hyundai, Jeep, Kia, Leapmotor, Lecar, MG Motors, Mitsubishi, Omoda & Jaecoo, Peugeot, RAM, Renault, Suzuki Motos, Toyota and Vespa. The supercars in the Dream Lounge, Dream Car and Carde spaces were among the most photographed spots.
The SDA Talks agenda featured over 100 hours of content, bringing together experts, executives and industry representatives for debates, thematic panels, awards ceremonies and product launches.
Another highlight of the event was vehicle sales, which showed very impressive results and reinforced the satisfaction of the exhibitors. Kia, one of the participating brands, sold 119 cars, including 49 Sportage 2026 models, 34 Niro models, 29 Carnival models, five EV5s and two EV9s. “We also saw a lot of demand for the Sorento Diesel 4x4 and Tasman models, but we are not accepting reservations because we don't have defined prices yet. The weekend was very busy at dealerships due to the new models, but we don't have the numbers yet. We consider the event a success and confirm our participation again in 2027,” says José Luiz Gandini, president of Kia Brazil.
Next edition confirmed
The next edition of the São Paulo International Motor Show is confirmed for October 30th to November 7th, 2027, and already has more than 10 confirmed companies: Caoa Changan, Caoa Chery, GAC, Hyundai, Kia, Omoda & Jaecoo, Renault, Toyota, Suzuki Motorcycles and brands from the Stellantis group.