O Primeiro Carro do Brasil Foi Traído Pelo Próprio Brasil: A História do Romi-Isetta

On September 5, 1956, sixteen tiny cars paraded through downtown São Paulo. They weren't imported. They weren't simply assembled with parts from abroad. They were the first passenger cars mass-produced in Brazil. Their name was Romi-Isetta. That day, a crowd stopped to watch. The cars were taken to the Episcopal Palace, where Cardinal Dom Carlos Carmelo de Vasconcelos Motta blessed the vehicles and declared that this initiative would help in Brazil's economic independence. It was the birth of the first Brazilian car. Five years later, it was out of production. Not because it was bad. Not for lack of technology. Not for lack of charisma. But because a rule created by the Brazilian government itself excluded the pioneer from the incentives that would help its competitors. The Romi-Isetta had two seats, a single front door, and an egg shape. The GEIA program, created by Juscelino Kubitschek to strengthen the national automotive industry, required at least four seats and two doors to grant tax and financial benefits. The first car manufactured in Brazil did not fit the rule created to encourage cars manufactured in Brazil. In this episode of Oxidized Crowns, we tell the story of Américo Emílio Romi, the Italian immigrant who started repairing cars at Garage Santa Bárbara, in Santa Bárbara d’Oeste, and built one of the largest machine tool industries in the country. Romi manufactured agricultural implements, lathes, precision machines, and industrial technology before deciding to enter the automotive market. In 1955, Américo Romi and Carlos Chiti traveled to Italy to negotiate the rights to the Isetta with Renzo Rivolta, owner of Iso. In just eleven months, Romi built a new factory, adapted the design, nationalized parts, and put the first Romi-Isetta on the Brazilian production line. The car had 72% national components, a sunroof, electric windshield wipers, a 12-volt system, and fuel consumption of up to 25 kilometers per liter. It was small, economical, different, and perfect for the urban Brazil that was beginning to grow. But the incentives from GEIA (Executive Group for the Automotive Industry) went to larger cars, such as the Volkswagen Beetle, DKW-Vemag, and Willys Renault Dauphine. The Romi-Isetta became too expensive to compete in the market. In April 1961, production ended. Approximately three thousand Romi-Isettas were produced. Meanwhile, in Germany, the same project helped save BMW from bankruptcy. BMW sold over 160,000 Isettas between 1955 and 1962 and used the small car to rebuild the company, which would later become one of the world's greatest symbols of luxury. In Brazil, the pioneering model was sidelined due to a rule allowing only two doors and four seats. In this episode of Oxidized Crowns, you will learn about: ▸ Américo Emílio Romi and the Santa Bárbara Garage ▸ The origin of Romi Industries in Santa Bárbara d’Oeste ▸ The Imor brand, Romi spelled backwards ▸ Agricultural machinery, lathes, and Brazilian industrialization ▸ Carlos Chiti and the dream of a national popular car ▸ The trip to Italy and the agreement with Renzo Rivolta ▸ Iso Isetta, BMW Isetta, and Romi-Isetta ▸ The historic parade of September 5, 1956 ▸ The blessing of Cardinal Dom Carlos Carmelo Motta ▸ The first passenger car manufactured in Brazil ▸ The 72% nationalization of the Romi-Isetta ▸ The front door, the egg shape, and the car's nicknames ▸ Juscelino Kubitschek, the Goals Plan, and GEIA ▸ The fatal rule Four-seater, two-door car ▸ Volkswagen Beetle, DKW-Vemag, and Willys Dauphine ▸ Production ended in April 1961 ▸ Approximately three thousand units produced ▸ How the Isetta helped save BMW ▸ The Romi-Isetta as a relic of Brazilian industry ▸ Why Brazil's first car was abandoned by the country itself 🔔 Subscribe to Coroas Oxidadas to follow stories of Brazilian companies, brands, and industries that were born, grew, were forgotten, and disappeared: Romi-Isetta, Gurgel, Puma, Varig, Garoto, Transbrasil, Mappin, Encol, Topper, Parmalat, Banco Nacional, and many others. 📺 Also check out on Oxidized Crowns: ▸ Puma — The Betrayal that Destroyed the Brazilian Ferrari ▸ Gurgel — The Tragic Story of the 100% Brazilian Car ▸ Varig — The Company of Employees That Ended Up Unable to Pay Them ▸ Garoto — The Brazilian Chocolate That the Family Itself Delivered to Nestlé 💬 Have you ever seen a Romi-Isetta in person? Did your father, grandfather, or someone in your family own an Isetta, a Beetle, a DKW, or another classic car that marked an era? Tell us in the comments. The Romi-Isetta lost the commercial battle. But it paved the way for the entire Brazilian automotive industry that came after. ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #RomiIsetta #Romi #Isetta #FirstBrazilianCar #BrazilianCar #AmericoRomi #CarlosChiti #BrazilianIndustry #JuscelinoKubitschek #GEIA #Beetle #BMWIsetta #ClassicCars #HistoryOfBrazil #OxidizedCrowns