Business
For almost a decade, solar panels and electric cars were treated as symbols of Brazil’s energy transition. Tax breaks, tax reductions, and import incentives helped to lower prices, accelerate the adoption of these technologies, and attract investment. This scenario began to change definitively when the federal government decided… reinstate and scale up import tax, ending the zero rate and establishing a schedule that could lead to collection at 35% in July 2026.
The decision is neither isolated nor improvised. It was formalized within the scope of Foreign Trade Chamber (Gecex/Camex) and directly affects two strategic sectors: electric mobility e solar energy, today pillars of the country’s environmental and industrial discourse.
In the case of electric vehicles, the import tax, which had been zero, has been reinstated and will be charged in stages. The approved schedule foresees gradual increases, starting in 2024 and reaching a maximum of… 35% in July 2026 for 100% electric cars. Hybrid and plug-in hybrid models follow a similar logic, with progressive percentages over the next few years.
With 203 m² of built area, the new R$1 billion factory arrives in Brazil and promises to generate around 1.850 direct and indirect jobs starting in 2026.
The fee to enter the paradisiacal city in SC has been readjusted and is already in effect since this Thursday (1st), charging R$ 40 per car and potentially reaching R$ 200 for buses, according to the city hall.
177,4 families with notified CPF numbers have until January 11, 2026, to return amounts of Emergency Aid received improperly, voluntarily settling R$ 478,8 million before it falls into the Active Debt of the Union, warns the MDS (Ministry of Social Development).
Income Tax 2026 will exempt salaries of 5 and impact the Brazilian economy.
The official justification is to stimulate the local industrializationThis is forcing automakers to produce in Brazil instead of simply importing finished vehicles. In practice, however, the immediate effect falls on the consumer, since a large portion of electric cars sold today still heavily depend on imports.
Automotive industry experts warn that the tax increase is likely to be passed on almost entirely to the final price, slowing the growth of the electric vehicle market just as it was beginning to gain scale.
Solar energy is following a similar path. Photovoltaic panels Imported goods also lost their total exemption and began to coexist with progressive taxation rules, albeit with temporary exemption quotas for certain volumes until 2026.
Brazil has built one of the world’s largest distributed solar generation markets based on imported equipment, especially from Asia. The reinstatement of the tax changes this equation and threatens to raise the cost of residential, commercial, and industrial projects.
Industry entities estimate that the impact could slow down new investments, directly affecting the expansion of installed capacity and the generation of jobs linked to the solar energy chain, which has grown explosively in the last decade.
The decision is part of a broader strategy of industrial policyThe government argues that prolonged import incentives have created external dependence and weakened domestic production. By raising the tax, the idea is to create space for local factories, technology transfer, and greater value addition within the country.
However, critics point to a contradiction: while Brazil makes international climate commitments and advocates for decarbonization, it is making the very technologies that enable this transition more expensive.
For the end consumer, the effect is direct. Electric cars tend to become more expensive, delaying their popularization. Electric model as an alternative to the combustion engine..
In the solar sector, photovoltaic systems may require larger investments, extending the financial payback period that made the technology so attractive.
Companies that planned to migrate their fleets to electric vehicles or install their own solar power plants are reassessing their accounts and timelines. Small and medium-sized projects are the most sensitive, as they have less room to absorb tax increases.
Associations in the automotive and solar energy sectors reacted with caution and criticism. On one hand, there is recognition of the importance of developing national industry. On the other, there is a fear that the transition will be abrupt, without local production being able to meet demand in the short term.
Manufacturers warn that simply raising taxes does not automatically guarantee factories, jobs, or innovation. Without complementary policies — such as credit, infrastructure, and regulatory predictability — the only risk is that products will become more expensive and the market will stagnate.
The tax, which was zero and can now reach 35%, redefines the game for consumers, businesses, and investors. More than just a tax change, it’s a strategic choice that will have lasting effects on the future of mobility and energy in Brazil.
And you, reader: Will the tax increase really create a strong industry in the country, or will it just make clean energy and electric cars more expensive for those who want to switch now?
With degrees in Journalism and Marketing, he is the author of over 20 articles that have reached millions of readers in Brazil and abroad. He has written for brands and publications such as 99, Natura, O Boticário, CPG – Click Petróleo e Gás, Agência Raccon, and others. He specializes in the Automotive Industry, Technology, Careers (employability and courses), Economics, and other topics. Contact and story suggestions: valdemarmedeiros4@gmail.com. We do not accept resumes!
© 2025 Click Oil and Gas – All rights reserved
