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Auto Union's South American experiment - subsidiary VEMAG becomes more independent in Brazil

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Created in 2014

Text:

Holger Merten

Photos:

Audi AG

Holger Merten

Unternehmensarchiv Audi AG

Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft

Archiv

Audi AG

Holger Merten

Unternehmensarchiv Audi AG

Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft

Archiv

A real eye-catcher on Brazil's roads in the 1960s: the DKW GT Malzoni.

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Impressions of the Audi special exhibition "Ordem e progresso"

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A DKW-Vemag Vermaguet from 1965 as a cab

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The presentation of the DKW-Vemag Belcar at Auto Union Brazil on August 15, 1962

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A DKW-Vemag F91 from Auto Union is presented and explained

Bild von Partner Porsche AMAG Mai Foto-Galerie 2026

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A DKW VEMAG Vermaguet from 1965, a popular Auto Union car in Brazil

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DKW-Vemag Vemaguet 1000 from 1962 of the Auto Union was previously called DKW Carmioneta

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A DKW Candango 4 is used for demonstration purposes

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A DKW Candango 2 off-road vehicle on an expedition in Latin America

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A German DKW Candango 2 on an expedition in Latin America

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A DKW Candango 2 off-road, for which it is perfectly suited

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The DKW Candango 2 was often also called the DKW Jipe or Munga

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VW SP 2 (1972) - sporty elegance from Brazil

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DKW-Vemag Belcar S (1967) and DKW-Vemag Fissore (1966) - photographed side by side in their home country of Brazil

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DKW-Vemag Belcar S (1967) and DKW-Vemag Fissore (1966) - Brazilian DKW under the world-famous statue of Christ in Rio de Janeiro - In the 1950s and 1960s, DKWs were built under license in Brazil, such as the DKW Fissore (left) and the DKW Belcar

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In front of the historic main entrance to the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro: DKW Fissore (left) and DKW Belcar

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The DKW GT Malzoni impresses above all with its wonderful design line

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The exhibition "Ordem e progresso" can be seen until September 21, 2014

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The Bossa Nova was created in Brazil in the 1950s, and the first DKW left the VEMAG production halls in 1956

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Auto Union Brasilia Ltda. in Rio de Janeiro had been importing four-ring automobiles since 1935

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A DKW Puma (1966) - on display at the "Ordem e progresso" exhibition in 2014

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Ein DKW-Vemag Vermaguet von 1965 als Taxi

DKW-Vemag Belcar-Schlüsselübergabe im Jahr 1967

Die Vorstellung des DKW-Vemag Belcar am 15.08.1962 der Auto Union Brasilien

Ein DKW-Vemag F91 der Auto Union wird vorgestellt und erklärt

Ein DKW VEMAG Vermaguet von 1965, ein beliebter Wagen der Auto Union in Brasilien

DKW-Vemag Vemaguet 1000 von 1962 der Auto Union wurde zuvor DKW Carmioneta genannt

Summary

After Auto Union had acquired a stake in VEMAG, the latter became more and more independent and the DKWs increasingly Brazilian. Many years later, in 1965, the German Auto Union was taken over by Volkswagen and the competitor from its own company was no longer tolerated by VW do Brasil on the Brazilian market. This meant the end for Auto Union Brazil, which had been the undisputed number 3 on the market for years with its Brazilian DKWs.

This article contains the following chapters

On the way to greater self-confidence
The DKWs become more Brazilian
What was missing? A sports car, of course
VW prepares for the end
How a DKW became a VW after all
Conclusion
Epilogue

Estimated reading time: 12min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Last week , we reported on Auto Union's South American experiment. We told you about Auto Union AG's entry into the Brazilian market and how it dealt with it, and we revealed a few things about how Auto Union tried to establish its off-road vehicle in the military, for example. The first part was entitled "Auto Union's South American experiment - building the German in Brazil". As early as 1934, Auto Union AG from Saxony had founded the sales company "Auto Union Brazil Limitada" in Rio de Janeiro. However, the branch was never really able to gain a foothold and by the end of the Second World War it was already over again. After the war, Auto Union GmbH re-entered the Brazilian market in the same year as VW. This was at a time when South America was on the rise and the Brazilian government had begun to push ahead with the development of a national automotive industry. Auto Union took part in this by acquiring a stake in VEMAG and a little later also supported "Elektro-Industria Walita SA" from Sao Paulo. After a short time, DKW Vemag had established itself and VEMAG became more and more self-assured and confident and soon started developing its own products for the Brazilian market. VEMAG was aware of its importance in Brazil, and the model range developed accordingly.

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