In this March 6, 2008 photo, Ford Ka cars are assembled in Sao Bernardo do Campo, Brazil. The Ford Ka hatchback sold in Europe scored a high safety rating of four out of five stars.

The cars roll endlessly off the local assembly lines of the industry’s biggest automakers, more than 10,000 a day, into the eager hands of Brazil’s new middle class. The shiny new Fords, Fiats and Chevrolets tell the tale of an economy in full bloom that now boasts the fourth largest auto market in the world.