A legislation Bill, currently going through parliament, is set to stimulate the renewal and recycling of Brazil’s truck fleet.

After a spectacular year in 2018, which saw sales expand by almost 80%, Volvo América Latina Group announced in February plans to expand operations in Brazil during 2019 and started with the hire of 300 new employees to increase production at the Curitiba plant.

Volkswagen Caminhões e Ônibus Ltda, a subsidiary of the Traton Group, in March launched on the Mexican market, its latest six ton gvw model, the VW Delivery 6.160.

Prior to the Ford announcement that it was pulling out of production and sales in South America, Ford Brasil Ltda delivered to waste management group, Marquise Ambiental Ltda, a prototype of a new Cargo Kolector 8x2 truck model with a 24 cubic metre compaction body; a first in the refuse segment with this large capacity.

Penske Truck Leasing Co has taken delivery of its first Fuso eCanter.

Volkswagen Caminhões e Ônibus Ltda has launched a new 4x4 truck model, the VW Constellation 15.190 4x4, on the Brazilian market.

Scania AB e announced record truck sales in 2018 of 87,995 units (2017: 82,472) and that bus and coach (chassis and FBU) sales too increased to a record number of 8,482 units in 2018 (2017: 8,305).

Scania Argentina in March announced the arrival of Scania’s New Generation truck range in the country.

Mercedes-Benz do Brasil has announced it has completed a BRA100m renovation of its cab assembly line in São Bernardo do Campo with expectations in efficiency gains of up to 15% and gains in terms of its logistical operations of some 20%.

Volkswagen Caminhões e Ônibus Ltda has delivered the first seven VW Worker 10.150 trucks of 15 units to be fitted with a number of bespoke bodies for operation by the National Police of Bolivia in three Bolivian cities of La Paz, Cochabamba and Santa Cruz.

Scania do Brasil Ltda has said it is forecasting continued market growth across all industrial areas in which it participates (trucks, buses, services and industrial, marine and power generation engines) in 2019.

In its centenary year in Brazil, Ford Brasil Ltda surprised the market in February by announcing it is to close its factory in São Bernardo do Campo where it produces the Ford F-Series models and Ford Cargo truck, as well as the Ford Fiesta car; production is expected to cease as soon as inventories run out, the company stated.