São Bernardo do Campo became known as Brazil's Automobile Capital when industry, in particular the metallurgical industry, thrived in the city during the 1960s. Many of these plants have since relocated to other regions but the automobile industry remains a vital part of the history of São Bernardo do Campo. The city is also known for its furniture industry, that was first developed by Italian immigrants, that influenced São Bernardo do Campo to be a Hi-Tech industrial pole. Famous by furniture industries. The industries also brought migrants from the Brazilian northeastern, especially from poor regions, by the 1960s. One of them was Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The now president then worked in automobile factories in São Bernardo do Campo during the 1970s.