João do Amaral Gurgel
João Augusto Conrado do Amaral Gurgel (March 26, 1926 – January 30, 2009) was a Brazilian engineer and businessman. He founded Gurgel Motores, a Brazilian automobile manufacturer, in 1969, with the aim of producing vehicles entirely made in Brazil. The company's initial models featured fiberglass bodies mounted on Volkswagen Beetle (fusca) chassis and machinery.
João Augusto Amaral Gurgel | |
|---|---|
| Born | João Augusto Conrado do Amaral Gurgel 26 March 1926 Franca, São Paulo, Brazil |
| Died | 30 January 2009 (aged 82) São Paulo, Brazil |
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Alma mater | Polytechnic School of the University of São Paulo |
| Occupation(s) | Engineer, Entrepreneur |
| Years active | 1948-1996 |
| Title | Founder of Gurgel |
During the São Paulo International Motor Show in 1974, Gurgel presented the Itaipu, a two-seater minicar that became the first electric vehicle developed in Latin America. Later on, he introduced the BR-800, the first fully designed and manufactured car made in Brazil.
However, Gurgel faced challenges over the years and eventually ceased operations in 1996.
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