Brazilian body builders produced 10,336 units in the period January to June this year, up 26.8% compared with the 8,152 units manufactured in the same period of 2022.

The move to stricter emissions in January this year led to a fall in demand.

Sales in the first half of this year rose to 3,580 vehicles an increase of 18.2% over the same period in 2022.

Truck sales in the Brazil fell by 8.8% in the first half of 2023, which was due largely to the introduction of new more stringent PROCONVE P8 (Euro 6) emissions legislation that came into effect on January 1, this year.

Introduction of new P8 emissions standards did not impact registrations, due to derrogation and high levels of P7 stock.

The Barra Bonita facility was established 8 years ago in 2015 for the production of mainly Caio bus bodies.

The Busscar brand of coach bodies resumed production in 2019 under the name Carbuss - Indústria Cartarinense de Carrocerias Ltda - a subsidiary of bus body builder Caio Induscar of Botucatu, in the state of São Paulo.

The autonomous vehicle, which operates at low speeds on closed circuits, is based on a diesel-powered Volare Attack 8 minibus developed in partnership with Lume Robotics.

The new Volksbus range already consists of seven models - one more for minibus production is now being added.

Testing has been on-going since the start of the year with plans for a commercial launch later this year - the brand already has a commercial electric truck, called the eDelivery.

The O 500 RSD 2448 478hp 6x2 and O 500 RS 1945 448hp 4x2 chassis conform to Euro V emissions standard, which is the prevailing standard or better in most Latin America countries outside of Brazil.

Libreparts now has 21 outlets throughout Brazil.