Launched in 2003, the company says the VM represents a watershed in Volvo's Brazilian operation. It was the brand's first semi-heavy vehicle in the country, being designed and produced exclusively in the Curitiba (PR) industrial complex, one of Volvo's main factories around the world.

The new distributor will be responsible for sales of all temperature control refrigeration unit models.

According to data from Bogotá-based Andemos (National Association for Sustainable Mobility) sales in year to September 30, 2023, fell by 35.3% to 19,444 heavy commercial vehicles compared with 30,060 units sold in the same period of 2022.

Iveco maintained its sales leadership with 4,199 units sold in the period from January to September this year, resulting in growth of 16.0% compared with 3,620 vehicles in the same period of the previous year.

Ecuador completed the first nine months of this year with registrations of 8,219 heavy commercial vehicles, a decrease of 4.2% compared with 8,581 vehicles sold in the same period of 2022.

With registrations of 12,881 heavy commercial vehicles during the first nine months of this year, the Peruvian market declined by 6.3% compared with 13,750 units invoiced in the same period of 2022.

The economic contraction in Chile went beyond the negative forecasts predicted by the Monthly Economic Activity Indicator in a more pronounced way than estimated and majorly compromised sales of commercial vehicles.

The Uruguayan market in January to September registered 2,242 commercial vehicles (trucks, buses and minibuses) an increase of 8.8% compared with the 2,061 units sold in the same period of 2022.

Brazilian truck production fell by 38.5% in the first nine months of 2023 to 71,765 trucks compared with 116,675 units in the same period of the previous year, according to data from the São Paulo-based ANFAVEA.

All trucks segments recorded a fall in demand, except for semi-light truck segment, which grew by 24.1% totalling 6,638 units in the first nine months compared with 5,348 units in the same period of the previous year.

Brazilian production of bus and coach bodies grew by 9.1% from January to September 2023 with 14,888 units, compared with 13,646 in the same period of the previous year.

According to São Paulo-based ANFAVEA, the result reflected the engine change to Euro 6 compliance in January, which made the vehicles 20% to 30% more expensive.