BWI Group has begun operations at a new research and development center in the São Paulo region of Brazil, extending the chassis supplier’s R&D network across four regions: China, Europe, North America and South America. The facility provides dedicated local technology support for the South American market, and BWI Group says it will work alongside the company’s two existing R&D centers and one manufacturing plant in North America to help automakers roll out vehicle programs across the region on a coordinated schedule.
Highlights
- The Brazil R&D center is located in the São Paulo region and focuses on brake-by-wire technology, covering product development, platform localization and technical support.
- The site completes a global R&D footprint spanning China, Europe, North America and South America.
- BWI Group’s 9th-generation Electronic Stability Control system is in mass production at multiple sites worldwide and enters South America for the first time this year.
- The iDBC1 integrated brake-by-wire (1-Box) system reached mass production in China in 2025 and has recently ramped to mass production in Europe.
What Does the Brazil R&D Center Do?
The center’s technical scope is brake-by-wire, with activities spanning product R&D, platform localization and technical support for regional customers. Localization work is the operative function: adapting existing chassis platforms to South American vehicle programs rather than duplicating clean-sheet development already carried out elsewhere in the network.
ESC and 1-Box Systems Enter the Region
BWI Group has moved the 9th generation of its Electronic Stability Control system into mass production at multiple sites worldwide, and the company says the system will be introduced in South America for the first time this year.
The iDBC1 integrated brake-by-wire (1-Box) system is also being added to the South American brake-by-wire roadmap. That system entered mass production in China in 2025 and has recently ramped up to mass production in Europe, giving the supplier two established manufacturing bases before the technology reaches South American programs.
Foundation Brake Business Expands Alongside
The international expansion is not limited to by-wire systems. BWI Group’s foundation brake business is also broadening its geographic reach, covering integrated Electric Parking Brake (EPB) systems and calipers.
Market Position
BWI Group describes itself as the only Chinese supplier of brake-by-wire products to mainstream European and American automakers. In automotive suspension, the company says it holds the leading position among Chinese brands by global market share.
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