Official data indicate that industrial output in Brazil was 2.5 percent greater last year than the year before, Reuters reports.

The news agency, citing the Brazilian statistics agency, says the expansion was the first for four years.

The report says the growth was due to a pickup in production of motor vehicles.

Carmakers expect their production to keep growing this year, as low interest rates make borrowing cheaper. the report says.

Industrial output in December was 2.8 percent greater than in November, Reuters says.