São Paulo – Marcopolo, a bus body maker, started shipping an order of ten buses for government of the Untied Arab Emirates last month. The vehicles are in the Paradiso 1200 model and were custom made, with luxury characteristics, to transport ministers and authorities from the region. One unit was shipped in late January. The others should be travelling the country in sixty days, according to the director of Foreign Market Trade Operations at Marcopolo, Paulo Andrade.
The Paradiso 1200 model was produced by Marcopolo, but was adapted for the Emirates. The vehicle does not have rows of seats, like coaches, but they are distributed in the form of a room. There is also a thermal isolation system that is special for the desert. According to Andrade, the Arabs have a custom of promoting meetings in the desert. The seats are in leather in the colours champagne and gold.
The deal was developed in partnership with Mercedes-Benz, responsible for the platforms of the vehicles, which are the O500RS type. The first of these buses was purchased by the Emirates in 2003, to comply with the tradition of meetings in the desert. The largest order, however, was placed now. The vehicles also have retarder brakes, television, DVD and a complete kitchen, with refrigerator, microwave, cupboards and sink.
The sales price of the buses is US$ 400,000. According to information supplied by Marcopolo, Paradiso 1200 is the bus most exported by the company. It has already been sold to around 40 countries in Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. The vehicle is normally shipped with adaptations according to the needs of each market or client. "One of the characteristics of the company is custom production," said Andrade.
Marcopolo is already well known in the Arab countries. Last year, the company did not make great sales in the region due to depreciation of the dollar, but the plan is now to return to sales. "We expect to return to a stronger position with the greater competitiveness in dollars. There are expectations for several deals," said Andrade. The company established last week a joint venture with GB Auto, in Egypt, for installation of a factory, and the forecast was to begin operation this year.
Last year, Marcopolo exported 6,242 units, including compete vehicles and bodies in parts. The production figures have not yet been closed, but expectations are for the company to end 2008 with 21,000 units produced and revenues of US$ 2.4 billion. For this year, the forecast is to grow 8%.
*Translated by Mark Ament
