 | |
| Industry | Automotive |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1958 |
| Defunct | 1966 (Taken over by Chrysler, brand extinguished in favour of Dodge brand in 1969.) |
| Fate | Renamed Chrysler do Brasil |
| Successor | Chrysler do Brasil |
| Headquarters | Brazil |
Key people | Henri Théodore Pigozzi, Simca founder and investor, Paulo Macedo Gontijo, general manager upon the company's foundation, Jacques Jean Pasteur, followed as general manager and streamlined manufacturing process, Sebastião Dayrell da Lima, the company's first president. |
| Products | Simca Chambord, Simca Alvorada, Simca Profissional, Simca Présidence, Simca Jangada, Simca Regente, Simca Esplanada, Simca GTX |
| Parent | Founded with capital from Simca, France, later taken over by Chrysler, United States. |
Simca do Brasil was the Brazilian subsidiary of the now defunct French automaker Simca. It started out in the late 1950s assembling the Simca Vedette imported in kit form from France and selling it in three versions, the Chambord, Présidence and Rallye. Later the company manufactured the radically restyled Esplanada with improved engines and, with increasing control by the Chrysler Corporation over the French concern, was taken over with the American car giant becoming its majority shareholder. During its ten years of market presence Simca defended its market share against fierce competition from Volkswagen, Ford, Chevrolet and Willys. The brand disappeared from the Brazilian market in the late 1960s following a strategic decision by its owners Chrysler.