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.

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.

Ford Motor Company, under a comprehensive redesign of its global business structure, has announced it plans to exit the commercial heavy truck business in South America.

At the beginning of the year, Daimler Buses launched two new public transport bus models on the Indonesian market, these were based on the chassis models of Mercedes-Benz OF 1623 RF and O500RS 1836, which the company says offer passengers improved levels of safety and comfort.

Marcopolo SA and Mercedes-Benz do Brasil have together won an order for 342 new low entry city buses with Metbus, STP Santiago SA and Redbus Urbano SA - three of the largest operators of the Transantiago system in Santiago de Chile.

The city of São Paulo in December announced it would be re-tendering the largest tender in Latin America for city buses.

Bus builder, Caio Induscar Ltda, has announced it is in the process of exporting 148 Mondego City bus models on Mercedes-Benz Euro VI chassis to Buses Vule, an operator providing services to the Transantiago Transport system in Santiago de Chile.

Volkswagen Caminhões e Ônibus Ltda, a subsidiary of the Traton Group has added a new production line at the group’s plant in Querétaro to expand bus chassis production.