The factory produces ICE powertrains for both off-road and on-road vehicles, including the Cursor 9, 10, 11 and 13 heavy-duty engines primarily for the South American market.

Carese is to take over responsibilities for the cabin frame modules commencing April 15th, replacing Aethra Automotive Systems (which file for bankruptcy), absorbing its activities and also its employees.

The Chilean commercial vehicle (truck and bus registrations combined) market continued to fall in the first quarter of this year, with 3,306 units sold, down 20.4% on the 4,156 units sold in the same period of 2023.

Truck and bus registrations above 6 tons gvw during the first quarter of 2024 in Argentina fell by more than 1,000 units.

In the period January to March 2024, truck production reached 29,327 units, an increase of 19.7% over the 24,497 vehicles manufactured in the same period in 2023 according to the National Association of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (ANFAVEA).

Production of bus and coach chassis increased by 61.6% to 6,490 units in the first quarter of 2024 compared with 4,105 in the first quarter of the same period in 2023, according to data supplied by ANFAVEA.

An engineer by training and with MBAs in the areas of Marketing and Business, Susini has extensive experience in the international automotive industry, where he held the position of president of Yamaha in Brazil.

“The supply to Expresso Nordeste confirms the brand's growth potential," said Danilo Fetzner, director of IVECO BUS for Latin America.

Investment is for initiatives in two primary locations: The Randon branded semi-trailer and railway wagon assembly plant in Caxias do Sul and the Motion Control manufacturing facility, also in Caxais do Sul, which operates under the Frasle Mobility brand name.

The new factory, construction of which is expected to be completed by the end of the year for start of operations in the first quarter of 2025, is to supply driveline components to the truck and bus chassis produced by Mercedes-Benz do Brasil.

The TransMilenio system in the city of Bogotá, Colombia, claims to have an electric bus fleet of over 1,600 vehicles, the second largest in South America behind Santiago in Chile.

Higer imports buses to South America via a JV in Brazil.