João do Amaral Gurgel

Ever since his youth, João Gurgel had a steadfast vision of establishing a thriving automobile industry in Brazil. This vision took root during his college years when he presented a groundbreaking concept for a small two-cylinder vehicle named Tião, defying expectations despite initially being assigned a crane project. Building on his passion and drive, he gained invaluable experience working at renowned companies like Buick Motor Company and General Motors Company. In 1958, fueled by his unwavering commitment, he founded Moplast Moldagem de Plásticos, initially focusing on the production of illuminated signs.In 1964, João Gurgel went on to establish Macan Indústria e Comércio Ltda, a Volkswagen dealership that specialized in manufacturing go-karts, mini-cars, and an industrial transporter called Mocar. Then, on September 1, 1969, he took a significant step by founding Gurgel Motores (Gurgel Motors), driven by a primary objective of advancing national automotive technologies. The company garnered acclaim for its innovative fiberglass-bodied vehicles. While João Gurgel had reservations about utilizing sugarcane ethanol as fuel, he did produce a limited number of vehicles equipped with alcohol-based engines. However, the majority of Gurgel vehicles operated on gasoline, reflecting his belief in prioritizing land use for food production rather than fuel.

Later life and death

In 2003, the industrial property registration of Gurgel Motors expired, and the brand was acquired by businessman Paulo Emílio Freire Lemos in April 2004 for R$ 850.00. During the acquisition, João Gurgel's family claims they were not consulted and decided to take legal action against Lemos. However, since there were no legal impediments for a new registration, the family lost the case.

Subsequently, Lemos attempted to relaunch the Gurgel X-12 but was unsuccessful. Instead, he imported a diesel-powered tricycle from China specifically designed for rural use. Currently, under Lemos' ownership, Gurgel operates solely as an importer of a diesel tricycle known as the TA-01. The vehicle resembles a small pickup truck, featuring a two-seater cabin, a tilting cargo bed capable of carrying loads up to 1200 kilograms, and a maximum speed of 60 kilometers per hour. With the exception of the body and cabin, all other parts of the vehicle are imported and assembled at a facility located in Presidente Prudente.

João Gurgel died on January 30, 2009, at the age of 82, at his residence in São Paulo, following an 8-year battle with Alzheimer's disease. He was survived by his spouse and three children.

Even to this day, João Gurgel maintains a following of supporters who claim that he was driven to bankruptcy by politicians. From 1976 to 1990, it was illegal to import jeeps or any other type of vehicle in Brazil. Even in 1990, the import tax for a jeep in Brazil was around 85%. Up until Gurgel's bankruptcy, the Brazilian press provided unwavering support to João Gurgel. He was consistently praised and celebrated by the media for over two decades. His vehicles were expensive, largely due to the fact that they were essentially handmade. The Brazilian press often referred to João Gurgel as the potential Brazilian equivalent of Henry Ford. He was also a popular figure. In 1987-1988, he launched a campaign to raise money from partners, offering shares for approximately US$4,500.00. These new shareholders were promised to be the first owners of the new car that would be produced by his company (the BR-800 model), and they did indeed receive their BR-800 cars.

João Gurgel, while highly regarded for his engineering prowess, faced challenges in managing his business, which ultimately resulted in significant financial consequences. According to sources, his default in 1994 amounted to an estimated US$1.2 billion, impacting various stakeholders including suppliers of vehicle parts and employees who were left unpaid.