Data collated and analysed by ANFIR (National Association of Manufacturers of Road Implements) of São Paulo, reveals that, despite the pandemic, the market for road implements (trailers and truck bodywork) in the first quarter of 2021 finished with substantial growth.

Sales of medium and heavy commercial vehicles, trucks and buses of 10.5t gvw and above, in Argentina rose by 63.1% in the first quarter of 2021 to 3,984 units compared with 2,443 units sold in the same period of 2020.

According to data released by the National Association of Bus Manufacturers (FABUS) of São Paulo, Brazil’s bus production fell by 32.8% in the first quarter of this year, when 3,069 units were manufactured compared with 4,549 units in the same first quarter of 2020.

Mercedes-Benz do Brasil Ltda has launched a new high floor chassis model for the city bus BRT segment, the O500 R Super Padron.

DAF, Iveco, Foton Caminhões, Mercedes-Benz, Scania, Volkswagen Trucks and Buses and Volvo Trucks Latin America have all added new dealers, adding more than 60 new truck dealer points in the country.

Ford Motor Company do Brasil Ltda has announced plans to assemble its Transit light commercial vehicle range in neighbouring Uruguay, starting next year.

Drinks company Ambevhas formalized agreement for delivery of the first 100 VWCO e-Delivery electric trucks from the second half of 2021.

The new 22m-long electric bus, called the Attivi Express, features the BYD D11B low floor chassis with BYD’s latest lithium iron phosphate battery technology.

The trailer and truck body builder and components supplier achieved net profits of BRA116m and net revenue of BRA1.5bn.

The Campione Invictus 1200 body, produced by Comil on the BYD D9F 4x2 chassis, has been developed for operations of short and medium distances for public and charter services such as city commuter services and intercity transfers.

Carbuss has expanded its export range of models to Uruguay with the sale of its first El Buss 320L coach to Decatur, a coach operator in Cerro Largo city.

Magirus GmbH of Ulm, Germany has delivered the first of four Dragon X6 fire trucks to Silvio Pettirossi Airport in the city of Asunción, Paraguay; making it the first country in South America to receive this highly specialized vehicle.