Despite supply shortages and production stoppages during 2021, the Brazilian truck manufacturers responded well to a market that grew strongly: According to data from Anfavea (National Association of Automotive Vehicle Manufacturers) sales in 2021 totalled 128,679, an increase of 43.5% compared with 89,678 units in 2020.

Marcopolo SA of Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil has shipped a first batch of 109 urban buses, out of a total 472 units, to Scania West Africa Ltd of Accra, Ghana.

Late November saw Marcopolo SA of Caxias du Sol present to President Jair Bolsonaro in Brasília, ABCD region of São Paulo, its first battery-electric bus fitted with its own technology and components from Brazilian and international suppliers.

Garrett Advancing Motion Indústria Automotiva Ltda at the end of 2021 celebrated 45 years of activities in Brazil; 35 of which have been spent in its factory located in Guarulhos, São Paulo state, which is dedicated to the production of turbocharging systems for engines in cars, trucks, buses, and agricultural machinery.

Cummins Brasil Ltda of Guarulhos, São Paulo State, celebrated several milestones in South America during 2021. The past 12 months saw the production of the 1.4 millionth engine, in addition to marking 50 years of the firm’s operations in Brazil.

December saw Brazilian truck body and trailer builder Librelato SA of Içara (Santa Catarina State), announce it was expecting to finish the 2021 year with approximately 13,500 vehicles sold, representing growth of 44% compared with 2020, when 9,400 units were sold.

Librelato S.A.1 of Içara, Santa Catarina state has launched a new generation of trailers under the name EVOLUT, comprising tippers, bulkers, tank semi-trailers, curtainsiders and aluminium box vans designed for a variety of industrial segments from agriculture and construction to the transport of beverages and fuels.

Cummins Brasil Ltda, a wholly owned manufacturing and sales subsidiary of Cummins Inc based in Guarulhos, São Paulo State, has announced that it has invested around BRA170 million (USD30m) in the development of its new engine platform to comply with the PROCONVE 8 (Euro 6) emissions standard, scheduled for introduction in Brazil from January 1, 2023.

January 1, 2022, saw Achim Puchert take over as leader and President of Mercedes-Benz do Brasil Ltda, responsible for Trucks and Buses in the Latin American region. Prior to this role, Puchert was Head of Sales for Daimler Trucks & Buses Overseas (DTO) and Head of International Sales, Marketing and Customer Services at Daimler Trucks Asia.

ZF do Brasil Ltda, headquartered in Sorocaba, São Paulo state, announced its parent company, ZF Group is the main drivetrain supplier to Higer Bus Company of Suzhou, China, for an electric bus that has started trials / tests with a city bus operator in the city of São Paulo; full scale operations of several electric Higer Bus buses are expected to start during the first half of 2022.

With the continuation of the mass vaccination and maintenance of a high level of GDP, the Brazilian truck and bus segment should continue to grow in 2022, stated Márcio Querichelli, President of IVECO Commercial Vehicles South America Ltda speaking Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais with Truck & Bus Builder South America in December. “IVECO has registered a significant volume of orders with many coming from the general cargo and mining segments, especially in the heavy and semi-heavy truck segments,” he stated.

Volkswagen Caminhões e Ônibus Ltda (VWCO) of Resende, Rio de Janeiro state, through one of dealership partners, claims to have inaugurated the largest dealership in the brand’s history. The new dealership, located in Limeira, State of São Paulo, is called Maggi Caminhões Ltda1 and covers a total area of ​​55,000 square metres (m²).