The number of buses operating in Brazil in 2020 fell by 0.5% to 388,900 units in circulation as compared with 391,000 units in 2019, according to the National Union of the Automotive Vehicle Component Industry (Sindipeças) with the average age of buses in Brazil having lengthened to ten years and nine months, two months more than in the previous year, ie 10 years and seven months.

Following the same path adopted by drinks company, Ambev, which in April announced it was converting 102 diesel trucks to electric, another Brazilian operator is following suit.

Scania Latin America Ltda and Comgás, the largest natural gas distributor in Brazil, have announced they are cooperating to initiate several joint actions to accelerate the development of the gas-powered commercial vehicles (natural gas and biomethane) in Brazil.  

Starting in 2022, Foton Aumark do Brasil, has announced it will launch a range of semi-heavy trucks under the Auman brand name.

BYD Brasil Ltd, in partnership with body builder, Marcopolo SA, have launched the first intercity electric coach, which went on trial for 90 days in June with transport operator, Expresso Princesa dos Campos.

Trailer builder and components supplier to the CV industry, Empresas Randon S.A. has released its latest Environmental, Social and Governance report, which among its core goals include a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and double the number of women in leadership positions by 2025.

Coach body builder, Carbuss Industria Catarinense de Carrocerias Ltda, which builds under the Busscar brand name, has announced plans to increase its market share of the intercity and charter coach segment in Brazil to 20% in 2021, putting it in second place to Marcopolo.

The National Association of Bus Manufacturers is forecasting the worst year this century for the Brazilian bus industry, with performance comparable only to 1999, when only 12,098 bodies were produced.

Scania Latin America Ltda reported record domestic truck sales growth of 115% for the first six months of 2021 at 7,794 units compared with 3,625 units and sees the strong demand continuing in the second half of the year.  

“In recent years, we have increased our competitiveness and strengthened sales to several countries in the African continent, such as Angola, Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ghana, among others.

July saw Volkswagen Caminhões e Ônibus Ltda (a Traton Group company) deliver the first of 100 e-Delivery all-electric light trucks to Ambev, who has ordered 1,600 e-trucks in total.

Higer Bus Co Ltd has started on-road field tests of its full-electric city buses in Brazil.