Grupo Caoa
IndustryAutomotive
Founded1979
FounderCarlos Alberto de Oliveira Andrade
HeadquartersSão Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
Area served
Brazil
Key people
Carlos Alberto de Oliveira Andrade Filho (President)
Websitecaoa.com.br

Grupo Caoa is the distributor of the Subaru, Hyundai and Chery brands in Brazil.[1][2] It has two of its own factories in Brazil, one in the Agroindustrial District of Anápolis, where Hyundai[3][4] and Chery models are assembled, as well as another in Jacareí, resulting from the acquisition of 50.7% of the company's Brazilian operations of Chery, in September 2017, thus forming CAOA Chery.[5]

History

Dr. Carlos Alberto de Oliveira Andrade of Paraíba purchased a Ford Landau in 1979, at a dealership called Vepel, in the city of Campina Grande in Paraíba,[6] but the dealership went bankrupt before delivering the vehicle. As compensation for the undelivered car, Carlos kept the dealership. Six years later, Grupo Caoa – a name formed from the initials of its founder – reached the level of the largest Ford dealer in all of Latin America. The company's expansion in the automotive sector took place in 1992, when Brazil opened its doors to importing vehicles. In the following years, Caoa became an official importer of other brands[7] such as Renault.[8]

The Hyundai Tucson became the best-selling SUV in Brasil

In 1998, Caoa began representing Subaru, the automotive division of Subaru Corporation.[9] In 1999, Hyundai also transferred its representation to Caoa in Brazil, after passing through the hands of two other distributors. In 2001, Hyundai became the leading brand in the import market and the Tucson became the best-selling SUV.[10] In 2007, Grupo CAOA opened Caoa Montadora de Veículos, which was the result of an initial investment of R$1.2 billion, built in the Agroindustrial District of Anápolis.[11] This resulted in earning Carlos Alberto de Oliveira Andrade the title of "Entrepreneur of the Year in Industry" by Istoé magazine.[12]

In 2010, the Anápolis factory was recognized as a "Company for Good" by IstoÉ Dinheiro magazine, for its program of reusing waste from vehicle production and participation in reforestation in the Central-West region.[13] In the last quarter of 2013, the Anápolis factory, which already produced the Tucson, the HR and the HD78, underwent a new investment cycle to begin production of the ix35. The investment of R$ 600 million guaranteed improvements in the assembly line with the inclusion of 10 robots, responsible for around 50% of the welding work.[14] In May 2014, the 10,000th ix35 left the Caoa assembly line, and Grupo Caoa celebrated its 35th year.[15] In 2017, Hyundai Caoa ranked first in the vehicle after-sales satisfaction survey, according to J.D. Power, which interviewed more than 3,700 owners who purchased new cars in the last 12 months in the country.[16] In November of the same year, Caoa acquired 50.7% of the Brazilian operations of Chinese manufacturer Chery, becoming responsible for manufacturing and distributing the brand in Brazil.[5]

Controversy

False advertising

In 2011, the group was reported to the Public Ministry of Minas Gerais (MPMG) for possibly carrying out misleading advertising, such as declaring the model year of the Subaru Forester, safety and engine of the Hyundai ix35 and the power of the Veloster, Elantra and other models.[17][18]

Corruption allegations

In 2015, Grupo Caoa, together with other automakers, was investigated for lobbying allegations for the approval of Provisional Measure 471 of 2009, under the government of then President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, which granted tax benefits to automotive companies.[19]

In 2016, Grupo Caoa was accused of paying bribes to the former Minister of the Civil House and Finance Antonio Palocci, in 2010, in exchange for his work in approving Provisional Measure 512 of that year,[20] and to the governor of Minas Gerais, Fernando Pimentel, in exchange for tax benefits.[21] In November 2017, the Federal Public Ministry expanded investigations into Caoa's relations with Palocci, after it was found that Palocci's consulting company Projeto signed several contracts with Grupo Caoa.[22]

References

  1. ↑ Flávio Mobaroli e Marcos Vieira (2007-01-11). "Entrevista com Carlos Alberto de Oliveira Andrade". Jornal Estado de Goiás. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
  2. ↑ André Vieira e László Varga (2009-01-13). "Ford pensa pequeno". IstoÉ. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
  3. ↑ "Hyundai Genesis Coupé no Brasil: Grupo Caoa estuda lançar o esportivo por R$ 110 mil". 11 April 2009. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
  4. ↑ Mora, Rodrigo (15 January 2014). "Hyundai prioriza expansão de fábrica no Brasil antes de novos produtos" (in Portuguese). G1.
  5. 1 2 "CAOA compra a operação brasileira da Chery". Quatro Rodas. 20 November 2017. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  6. ↑ "CAOA - Nossa história". Grupo Caoa. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  7. ↑ "Capitães da Indústria - Carlos Alberto de Oliveira Andrade". Folha de S.Paulo. 16 December 2007. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  8. ↑ "Caoa, o construtor de marcas" (in Portuguese). Istoé. 17 November 2017.
  9. ↑ "Caoa completa 35 anos de atuação no mercado". Automotive Business. 30 May 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  10. ↑ "Hyundai e grupo Caoa seguem firmes na parceria". Revista Auto Esporte. 26 June 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  11. ↑ "Hyundai inaugura fábrica em Goiás em fevereiro". CNM/CUT. 29 November 2006. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  12. ↑ "Investidor - Carlos Alberto de Oliveira Andrade". IstoÉ Dinheiro. 12 December 2007. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  13. ↑ "50 Empresas do Bem (1ª a 10ª)". IstoÉ Dinheiro. 19 March 2010. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  14. ↑ "Hyundai Caoa inicia produção do ix35 no país". Exame. 8 November 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  15. ↑ "Hyundai CAOA comemora produção de 10 mil ix35 em Anápolis". Motor 1. 5 June 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  16. ↑ "Hyundai CAOA lidera pesquisa de satisfação da J.D. Power". Quatro Rodas. 31 May 2017. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  17. ↑ "Ministério Público de Minas Gerais investiga Hyundai por possíveis propagandas enganosas". Notícias Automotivas. 2011-10-31. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
  18. ↑ "CAOA tenta enganar mais uma vez os consumidores". Notícias Automotivas. 2011-09-20. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
  19. ↑ "Gilberto Carvalho fez lobby para montadoras no governo Lula". Época. 26 October 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  20. ↑ "Palocci é alvo no DF de duas novas apurações por enriquecimento ilícito". G1. 27 September 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  21. ↑ "Empresário diz que Pimentel recebeu R$ 10 milhões em propina". Jornal Nacional. 23 May 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  22. ↑ "Ministério Público aprofunda investigação sobre relações de Palocci com a empresa Caoa". Época. 4 September 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
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