An Interview with Roberto Leoncini, Vice President of Sales and Marketing Trucks and Buses at Mercedes-Benz do Brasil brings us up to date on business in 2021 and expectation for 2022

The Chilean truck market celebrated unit sales of 16,898 trucks in 2021, an increase of 58.7% over the 10,646 units registered 2020, a result that corresponds to the third best year of the past decade,  behind 2011 and 2012 when 18,585 and 18,309 vehicles were registered respectively - according to figures collated and released by ANAC (National Automotive Association of Chile).

The Argentine market ended 2021 with the sale of 14,827 commercial vehicles (trucks and buses), an increase of 41.1% over 10,510 units in 2020, according to data from ACARA (Association of Automobile Dealers of the Argentine Republic). ACARA stated the growth was due as much to market recovery as to the close collaborative efforts between the manufacturers and the dealer network to ensure the range of products available in stores across the country met the growing demand.

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.

The Peruvian truck segment ended 2021 with the sale of 15,680 units, an increase of 45.5% compared with 10,773 in 2020, and a gain of 27% compared with 2019, according to figures collected and supplied by the Automotive Association of Peru (AAP) based in the capital Lima.

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.