Dr. Carlos Alberto de Oliveira Andrade, the founder of CAOA, started working in the automotive sector by acquiring a Ford Landau at the Ford dealership in Campina Grande (PB). When the dealership went bankrupt, he did not hesitate to propose that it would be transferred to him to offset the payment for the vehicle. This is how CAOA was founded and, in less than six years, it became the largest Ford dealership in Brazil.

CAOA started its operations in São Paulo, becoming the largest Ford dealer in the country in record time.

Brazil started importing vehicles, an operation that was prohibited until then. That same year, CAOA became the official and exclusive importer of the Renault brand in the country. In less than three years, Renault became the number one brand in sales in the imports category, and the 5th in the overall market.

CAOA became the Subaru brand official importer and distributor. Sales of the Japanese brand, which were previously represented by another importer, tripled in less than a year.

Now it was Hyundai's turn. The brand had already been represented by two other distributors, without success. But it was a different story with CAOA: Hyundai brand reached the leadership in the SUV segment with the Tucson model.

CAOA consolidates its success story with Ford, becoming the largest Ford dealer in Latin America, in addition to being the exclusive importer and distributor of the Subaru and Hyundai brands nationwide.

Hyundai's first plant in Brazil was inaugurated: CAOA Montadora de Veículos – Hyundai. The R$1.2 billion enterprise, built in the Agroindustrial District of Anápolis (DAIA), was built with its own resources and earned Dr. Carlos Alberto de Oliveira Andrade the title of ‘Entrepreneur of the Year in Industry’ by IstoÉ Dinheiro magazine.

With the program to reuse vehicle production residues and the participation of reforestation in the Midwest region, Anápolis plant was recognized as the “Empresa do Bem” or “Company of Good” by IstoÉ Dinheiro magazine. And, for three years in a row, the “Most Admired” by Carta Capital.

Dr. Carlos Alberto de Oliveira Andrade was awarded “Distributor of the Year” by the South Korean parent company Hyundai Motor Company, among the 179 Hyundai distributors across the globe. It was the first time that Hyundai Motor Co. awarded this title to a distributor outside Europe. 

We reached the end of 2014 with more than 10,000 ix35 produced at Anápolis plant, GO. The New Tucson, HR and HD80 models are also assembled and distributed there.

We reached the end of 2014 with more than 10,000 ix35 produced at Anápolis plant, GO. The New Tucson, HR and HD80 models are also assembled and distributed there.

Inauguration of CAOA Hyundai Premium Services, the first After-Sales showroom.

Inauguration of the Center for Research and Energy Efficiency (CPEE), at CAOA Montadora plant, in Anápolis (Goiás).

CAOA, Latin America's largest automobile production and distribution conglomerate, and Chery, China's largest vehicle exporter, signed a historic cooperation agreement to launch CAOA Chery, a new 100% national automaker.

CAOA stands out once again, not only in Sales but also in After-Sales, winning first place in the Sales Satisfaction Index SSI (Sales Satisfaction for the Second Time) and Customer Service Index CSI (After-Sales Satisfaction for the First Time), both granted by JD Power, a renowned worldwide consultancy specializing in Customer Satisfaction surveys.

The 52nd edition of the “Car of the Year” award, one of the most important in the national automotive sector, ensured a fair tribute to businessman Carlos Alberto de Oliveira Andrade, elevating the Chairman of CAOA, to the title of winner in the category of Executive of the Year 2019. The award is offered and organized by the renowned magazine Auto Esporte, published by Editora Globo.

With the launch of Tiggo 7, the young CAOA CHERY brand closes its first cycle of launches celebrating the fact that it has introduced four new vehicles to the Brazilian market in less than a year – Tiggo 2, Arrizo 5, Tiggo 5x and Tiggo 7.

CAOA CHERY takes its biggest technological leap with the launch of the innovative Tiggo 8 and Arrizo 6.

CAOA expands its business activities in the car rental area with CAOA Locadora, in addition to expanding its business in the insurance brokerage area and also launching lubricating oil under its own brand, Supremus.

Considered the biggest technological leap within the CAOA CHERY portfolio, the Tiggo 8 gets a new special version in honor of the founder of CAOA, Dr. Carlos Alberto de Oliveira Andrade, entrepreneur who revolutionized the national automotive market and became an icon of the Brazilian automotive industry. The Tiggo 8 Founder's Edition hits the market as a limited edition and configurations that make CAOA CHERY's largest and most luxurious SUV even more sophisticated.

In 2022, CAOA Chery becomes the first automaker in Brazil to offer its entire line of vehicles with a hybrid option. The new 48V Tiggo 5X Pro Hybrid, Tiggo 7 Pro Hybrid and Arrizo 6 Pro Hybrid, and the new Tiggo 8 Pro Plug-In Hybrid arrive to make history. And the new iCar, 100% electric, arrives to revolutionize the electric market in Brazil.

With a solid academic background from Brown University in the USA, Carlos Alberto de Oliveira Andrade Filho assumes the presidency of CAOA in December 2022. Carlos has always been involved in the day-to-day business of CAOA, acquiring experience in all operational areas of the company, in addition to having participated in the company's major negotiations and strategic decisions. Anticipating global changes in the automotive sector, Carlos Filho led the technological turnaround in our automotive industry, investing in the manufacture of hybrid models and the import of vehicles with electric technology.