BWI Group has begun operations at a new R&D centre in the São Paulo region, giving automakers in South America dedicated local technology support for brake-by-wire, stability control and foundation brake programs.
BWI Group, a global leader in chassis technologies, has begun operations at its new Brazil R&D Centre. The facility will provide dedicated local technology support for the South American market and further extends BWI Group’s global R&D network, which now covers China, Europe, North America and South America.
Brazil is on course for more than three million vehicle sales in 2026, an increase of 12.1% on last year[RD1] , and a rising import tariff has pushed a wave of new vehicle assembly into the country. Local engineering support has become part of what automakers expect from their chassis suppliers in the region.
A local base for South American programs
Located in the São Paulo region, the BWI Group Brazil R&D Centre focuses on brake-by-wire technology, with activities covering product R&D, platform localization and technical support. Together with BWI Group’s two R&D centres and one manufacturing plant in North America, it helps automakers roll out their programs across South America.
Bringing brake-by-wire technology to the region
BWI Group has brought the 9th generation of its Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system into mass production at multiple sites worldwide, and the system will be introduced in South America for the first time this year.
The iDBC1 integrated brake-by-wire (1-Box) system will also be added to the South American brake-by-wire roadmap. The 1-Box system entered mass production in China in 2025 and has recently ramped up to mass production in Europe. The international expansion of the foundation brake business covers integrated Electric Parking Brake (EPB) systems and callipers.
Supporting automakers as they expand
Advanced suspension and brake technologies remain the foundation of BWI Group’s support for its automaker customers. As a Tier 1 chassis technology supplier with a long-established global presence, BWI Group will combine localised technical support with its wider service capabilities to work closely with automakers as they grow in global markets.
BWI Group is the only Chinese supplier of brake-by-wire products to mainstream European and American automakers. In the automotive suspension sector, BWI Group also holds the top position among Chinese brands in terms of global market share.
