Simca do Brasil
Encyclopedia
Simca do Brasil was a subsidiary of the now defunct French automaker Simca
and started out in the late 1950s assembling the Simca Vedette
imported in kit form from France
and selling it in three versions, the Chambord, Présidence and Rallye. Later the Company manufactured the radically restyled Esplanada with improved engines and, with increasing control by the Chrysler Group over the French concern, was taken over by the American car giant as majority share holder. During its ten years of market presence Simca defended its market share against fierce competition from Volkswagen, Ford, Chevrolet and Willys. The brand disappeared from the Brazilian Market in the late 1960s following a strategic decision by its owners Chrysler.
Simca do Brasil was founded on the 5th of May 1958 in the City of Belo Horizonte
, capital of the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais
, as a result of Brazilian President Juscelino Kubitschek efforts to lure foreign car companies to pioneer this market with huge potential through tempting fiscal advantages.
Simca do Brasil initially imported kits of the Simca Vedette supplied by the French Simca HQ and had them assembled in their facilities in São Bernardo do Campo
(State of São Paulo
}, where the administration would move to later on, and Rio de Janeiro
. The first car left the assembly line in 1959 but was plagued with enormous problems due to the 480 strong, but totally unexperienced workforce.
parts suppliers to transform the Simca Chambord, Présidence and Rallye models into true Brazilian made cars because of Brazilian government demands in exchange for the benefits granted so far. But the huge problems faced on a daily basis at the assembly line threatened to put the future manufacturing site in severe doubts.
A crisis broke out and Simca do Brasil threatened to become paralyzed by the growing problems. Simca France, having invested heavily in their Brazilian offspring, then sent their top engineer Jacques Jean Pasteur to Brazil not only to streamline the production but to actually run the entire operation. By 1961 Pasteur had successfully addressed the issues and cars were being built with 98% of parts from national suppliers.
took over as majority shareholder and from August 1967 onwards cars left the production line with a small badge at the rear, saying “fabricado pela Chrysler” (built by Chrysler) sending out the message of the takeover by the American car brand but the well established Simca name remained on for another two years. Finally, in 1969, the Simca name was laid to rest as the Americans re-introduced one of their internationally renowned brand names by launching the Dodge Dart
on the Brazilian market.
Simca
Simca was a French automaker, founded in November 1934 by Fiat. It was directed from July 1935 to May 1963 by the Italian Henri Théodore Pigozzi...
and started out in the late 1950s assembling the Simca Vedette
Simca Vedette
The Simca Vedette is a large car, manufactured from 1954-1961 by the French automaker Simca, at their factory in Poissy, France. It was marketed with different model names according to trim and equipment levels...
imported in kit form from France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and selling it in three versions, the Chambord, Présidence and Rallye. Later the Company manufactured the radically restyled Esplanada with improved engines and, with increasing control by the Chrysler Group over the French concern, was taken over by the American car giant as majority share holder. During its ten years of market presence Simca defended its market share against fierce competition from Volkswagen, Ford, Chevrolet and Willys. The brand disappeared from the Brazilian Market in the late 1960s following a strategic decision by its owners Chrysler.
Simca do Brasil was founded on the 5th of May 1958 in the City of Belo Horizonte
Belo Horizonte
Belo Horizonte is the capital of and largest city in the state of Minas Gerais, located in the southeastern region of Brazil. It is the third largest metropolitan area in the country...
, capital of the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais is one of the 26 states of Brazil, of which it is the second most populous, the third richest, and the fourth largest in area. Minas Gerais is the Brazilian state with the largest number of Presidents of Brazil, the current one, Dilma Rousseff, being one of them. The capital is the...
, as a result of Brazilian President Juscelino Kubitschek efforts to lure foreign car companies to pioneer this market with huge potential through tempting fiscal advantages.
Simca do Brasil initially imported kits of the Simca Vedette supplied by the French Simca HQ and had them assembled in their facilities in São Bernardo do Campo
São Bernardo do Campo
São Bernardo do Campo is a municipality in the state of São Paulo, in southern Metropolitan São Paulo and São Paulo microregion. The municipality's total area is 408.45 km ² and a population estimated at 1 July 2009, according to the IBGE, was 810,979 inhabitants, which results in a population...
(State of São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
}, where the administration would move to later on, and Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
. The first car left the assembly line in 1959 but was plagued with enormous problems due to the 480 strong, but totally unexperienced workforce.
From assembling to manufacturing
Meanwhile Simca do Brasil imported all the tools and machinery to start its own production and was busy recruiting 980 local OEMOriginal Equipment Manufacturer
An original equipment manufacturer, or OEM, manufactures products or components that are purchased by a company and retailed under that purchasing company's brand name. OEM refers to the company that originally manufactured the product. When referring to automotive parts, OEM designates a...
parts suppliers to transform the Simca Chambord, Présidence and Rallye models into true Brazilian made cars because of Brazilian government demands in exchange for the benefits granted so far. But the huge problems faced on a daily basis at the assembly line threatened to put the future manufacturing site in severe doubts.
A crisis broke out and Simca do Brasil threatened to become paralyzed by the growing problems. Simca France, having invested heavily in their Brazilian offspring, then sent their top engineer Jacques Jean Pasteur to Brazil not only to streamline the production but to actually run the entire operation. By 1961 Pasteur had successfully addressed the issues and cars were being built with 98% of parts from national suppliers.
Chrysler takes over
In the second half of 1966 ChryslerChrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
took over as majority shareholder and from August 1967 onwards cars left the production line with a small badge at the rear, saying “fabricado pela Chrysler” (built by Chrysler) sending out the message of the takeover by the American car brand but the well established Simca name remained on for another two years. Finally, in 1969, the Simca name was laid to rest as the Americans re-introduced one of their internationally renowned brand names by launching the Dodge Dart
Dodge Dart
The Dodge Dart is an automobile built by the Dodge division of the Chrysler Corporation from 1960-1976 in North America, with production extended to later years in various other markets. The Dart was introduced as a lower-priced, shorter wheelbase, full-size Dodge in 1960 and 1961, became a...
on the Brazilian market.
Models
- Simca Chambord (Brazilian model)Simca chambord (Brazilian model)The Simca Chambord was the first ever car to be built by Simca's factory in Brazil. The first car, a direct copy of the French built Simca Vedette, left the production line in March 1959...
- Simca AlvoradaSimca AlvoradaThe Simca Alvorada was a stripped version of the Simca Chambord, the first model to be built by Simca do Brasil.The Chambord, which was a direct copy of the French built Simca Vedette, had first left the production line in March 1959 and featured an engine, 3 speed gearbox with the shifter located...
- Simca ProfissionalSimca ProfissionalThe Simca Profissional was a successor to the Simca Alvorada, which was itself a stripped version of the entry level Simca Chambord. Simca do Brasil had responded reluctantly to the demand by the Brazilian government of president Juscelino Kubitcheck that every car manufacturer must offer an...
- Simca Rallye
- Simca Présidence (Brazilian model)
- Simca Jangada
- Simca EsplanadaSimca EsplanadaThe Esplanada was a large car designed by the Brazilian subsidiary of French automaker Simca. Launched at the 1966 motor show in São Paulo , it replaced the models Présidence and Rallye, and was manufactured until 1969 at the São Bernardo do Campo factory...
- Simca Regente
- Simca Tufão
- Simca GTX