By Artur Piva
The entry version of the Renault Kwid, the cheapest zero-kilometer car in Brazil, has increased in value and now costs almost R$69,000 (US$13,902).
With the increase, its price is now tied with the competitor Fiat Mob.
According to CNN, Renault attributes the increase in prices of its vehicle to the global economic scenario.
“In recent years, the automotive sector has been impacted by several factors such as the global logistics crisis, lack of electronic components, and increase in raw materials,” the automaker said in a statement to the press.
“This entire scenario has caused an increase in manufacturing costs and vehicle prices.”
Two events have marked the world economy in the last few years cited by the automaker.
The first of these is the Covid-19 pandemic.
Amid the spread of the disease, governments around the planet adopted measures to restrict the movement of people.
The impact disrupted global supply chains, thus raising production costs.
There was a shortage of the chips used in various car components.
The lack of the item made, for example, Renault cut part of its production in 2021.
When the coronavirus started to spread worldwide in January 2020, Kwid and Mob were already competing for the position of the cheapest new car in Brazil.
At the time, their entry values reached just over R$40,000.
The second big shock in the world economy came with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began in late February 2022.
The conflict further intensified the problems caused during the pandemic.
In January 2022, before the war broke out, the cheapest new car in Brazil cost just over R$50,000.
At the time, the Renault Kwid also held this position.
With information from Revista Oeste