Winner of tender for trains in Bahia was convicted of cartel in subway contracts

The company Alstom Brasil Energia, which won a bid from the government of Bahia to manufacture ten trains for the Salvador subway, has already been convicted of cartel in subway contracts across the country.

The tender made by the government of Jerônimo Rodrigues (PT) will cost R$632 million to the public coffers. Alstom won the competition after the government revoked cheaper bidding, which had been won by a Chinese company, CRRC Changchu.

The first tender took place in 2025, but, before the contract was signed, in August this year, it was revoked by the state government. The government would pay R$490 million for the purchase of trains destined for the Salvador and Lauro de Freitas metro.

In October, in the new tender, Alstom won, charging R$142 million more from the government of Bahia.

In 2019, the company was condemned by Cade (Administrative Council for Economic Defense) for anti-competitive practices that harmed at least 26 tenders, including projects in São Paulo, Distrito Federal, Minas Gerais and Rio Grande do Sul.

She was identified as one of the protagonists of the fraudulent scheme that involved price combination, division of contracts and manipulation of proposals to reduce competition in public tenders.

The company was fined R$128 million, in addition to being banned from participating in tenders for five years.

Other side

In a statement, Alstom stated that, after Cade's decision, it sought judicial review and, in 2020, obtained an injunction that remains in force and suspends the effects of the administrative decision.

"Alstom maintains a robust compliance program and remains firmly committed to the highest standards of ethics and integrity in the conduct of its business," he said.

When contacted, the government of Bahia did not respond.