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

Carbuss Industria Catarinense de Carrocerías Ltda which operates under the Busscar brand name, is targeting both domestic and export markets in order to ramp up production and sales in 2019.

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.

Eletra (Tecnologia de Tração Elétrica) - recognized as a national and international reference company in development of electric traction systems for buses - has signed exclusive partnership agreements with Grupo Moura, the leader in battery sales in South America and XALT Energy, specializing in energy solutions for heavy vehicles, to develop electric buses to be manufactured in Brazil.

February 2019 saw Chile introduce, what it claims, is South America’s first intercity electric coach.

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.

Commercial vehicle manufacturer, VE Commercial Vehicles Ltd - the commercial vehicle manufacturing joint venture and subsidiary of Sweden’s Volvo AB and Eicher Motors Ltd - has introduced Wabco’s OptiDrive AMT system to its 6-speed gearbox in the Eicher Pro 3016 16t gvw rigid truck model.

The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal for the implementation of phase II of the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles with a fund allocation of USD1.54bn over the next three years, with effect from April 1, 2019.

JBM Solaris Electric Vehicles Pvt Ltd, a joint venture between Polish bus maker, Solaris Bus & Coach SA and the Indian firm, JBM Auto Ltd, has announced that it has begun trials of the Ecolife electric bus in New Delhi.

Automotive Research Association of India has designed a light weight bus body that is fully compliant with the body building code that ARAI claims delivers fuel savings of 8% compared with current commercial buses.