Seeking to capitalize on the fast-growing Brazilian economy, Honda says that it will begin selling its Acura premium brand in the market in 2015.Â
The announcement was made at the Sao Paulo auto show by Honda CEO Takanobu Ito. Similarly, Ito confirmed plans to expand Honda's lineup in the market with the addition of a new compact SUV in about 18 months.Â
Acura launched in the United States in the mid-1980s as the first dedicated Japanese luxury brand. Unlike rivals from Toyota (Lexus) and Nissan (Infiniti), Acura has been slow to enter other markets aside from China and Mexico.Â
Honda's decision to push Acura into Brazil further solidifies the South American country's importance to premium automakers. BMW announced this week that it will build a new factory in southern Brazil, while Rolls-Royce opened its first South American showroom in Sao Paulo last week. Over the last half decade, premium brand car sales in Brazil have increased seven-fold.Â
Acura's push into Brazil could help expand the brand's volume, a move the brand desperately needs after several missteps over the last few years that have cost it market share in the United States.Â
Honda has not said what Acura models will be sold in Brazil.Â
