TIM Brasil and BYD have signed a far-reaching technology alliance to digitize the Chinese automaker’s industrial operation in Brazil and expand connectivity for its electric and hybrid vehicle fleet.
The agreement includes the deployment of a dedicated private 4G and 5G network at the Camaçari industrial complex in the state of Bahia, and the provision of embedded connectivity for nearly 400,000 of the brand’s vehicles already on the road in the country.
The alliance makes TIM Brasil a strategic partner for BYD’s consolidation in the Brazilian market by integrating the digitization of the plant and drivers’ connected experience into a single infrastructure.
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A Private Network to Digitize BYD’s Largest Industrial Complex Outside China
The industrial centerpiece of the alliance is the installation of a private cellular network (exclusive to BYD) that will cover the Camaçari industrial complex, inaugurated in October 2025 and considered the Chinese automaker’s largest outside its home country, spanning 4.6 million square meters.
The project, whose technical details were confirmed by both companies, includes seven external coverage points and 63 pieces of equipment distributed across production buildings and operational areas.
The infrastructure is designed to connect employees, visitors, production systems, heavy machinery, and the vehicles themselves during the manufacturing process, facilitating real-time information exchange among different stages of the operation.
According to Alexandre Baldy, senior vice president of BYD Brasil, the private network will allow the integration of “machines, equipment, systems, controls, access, people, cars” into a “general ecosystem” that will cover both the external and internal infrastructure of the plant.
The company estimates that between 14,000 and 15,000 people pass through the complex daily, and the network seeks to optimize supply-chain efficiency and the integration of industrial processes.
eSIM Connectivity for Nearly 400,000 Vehicles
The second pillar of the agreement is embedded connectivity for BYD’s light-vehicle fleet in Brazil. The solution will use eSIM technology, which allows connection profiles to be activated and managed remotely without the need for a physical SIM card.
According to the automaker’s own estimates, the brand’s electrified vehicle fleet in the country totals nearly 400,000 units.
Through a smartphone app, owners will be able to manage remote functions such as climate control, door unlocking, seat heating, and real-time vehicle tracking.
Alberto Griselli, CEO of TIM Brasil, highlighted that the operator already accounts for 60% of connected-vehicle sales in the country, and that the alliance with BYD consolidates its position in the Internet of Vehicles (IoV) segment.
TIM, which has 4G coverage in 100% of Brazilian municipalities and a 5G network in more than 1,170 cities, is also negotiating a future low-Earth-orbit satellite connectivity partnership to extend coverage to remote areas.
The Nationalization of Production, a Parallel Process That Is Gaining Speed
In parallel with the TIM alliance, BYD is advancing steadily in the nationalization of its production in Brazil, a process that seeks to reduce dependence on imported components and open the door to regional exports.
The company has already incorporated 17 suppliers into the industrial complex and has brought the paint, parts-stamping, and welding units online, with investments exceeding 11 billion reais (approximately $2.06 billion).
The company expects to begin manufacturing with high local content between November and December 2026 and to reach 50% local content by January 2027, a level that would allow it to meet Mercosur requirements (which require a regional minimum of 35%) and expand exports to neighboring markets.
This industrial progress is occurring at a pace that industry observers describe as unprecedented in the Brazilian automotive industry, and it lays the groundwork for the Camaçari plant to establish itself as an export hub for electrified vehicles to Argentina, Mexico, and other Latin American markets.
The complex’s current production capacity is 150,000 vehicles per year, with projections to reach 300,000 in a second phase and 600,000 by 2030.
An Ecosystem That Integrates Industry and Connected Mobility
The alliance between TIM and BYD goes beyond simply providing connectivity and is part of a broader trend: the integration of industrial digitization with connected mobility services.
While the private 4G and 5G network lays the groundwork for a more efficient and interconnected factory, embedded connectivity turns BYD vehicles into active nodes of a digital services ecosystem that is updated remotely.
For TIM, the agreement represents a strategic expansion in the automotive market, where it already connects more than 630,000 vehicles through IoV solutions.
For BYD, the alliance with an operator of TIM’s stature not only improves the customer experience but also strengthens its industrial infrastructure at a key moment in its Latin American expansion, where it aims to establish itself not only as a vehicle importer but as an industrial player fully integrated into Brazil’s manufacturing base.
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The transition toward cleaner transportation shows no signs of stopping, and the advances we are witnessing today are the engine of what is to come. The best of 2026 drives what is coming in 2027, and electrification is already underway across the region, and it is time to look forward and prepare for the next major milestone of the industry.
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