From the Newsroom
São Paulo – This year, DaimlerChrysler, the owner of brand Mercedes-Benz, is going to break the export record since the company installation in Brazil, in 1953. Up to the end of the month, according to information supplied by the company, a total of 17,000 trucks and buses will have been shipped to over 40 countries. This volume is 78% greater than that registered in 2003, 9,525 units. Among the main destinations are Egypt, as well as Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Indonesia and Nigeria. Egypt was already one of the highlights among the company markets last year.
Of the total number of vehicles destined to the foreign market, 8,502 were trucks, against 3,018 last year, an increase of 182%. In the case of buses, the volume rose from 6,500 to 8,500 units. The company hopes to end the year with revenues of US$ 2.9 billion, being 35%, or US$ 1.02 billion, represented by foreign trade. In 2003, the company had revenues of US$ 2.1 billion.
The company forecasts that it will end the year with exports of 30,600 engines, 10,000 axels and 35,600 gear units.
Among the Arab countries, Mercedes Brazil also does business with Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Recently, for example, the company closed the sale of 150 buses to Saptco, the Saudi public transport company, as part of a larger contract singed with the German head office, involving 450 units.
Production
The export increase and the improvement of the Brazilian commercial vehicle market made Mercedes Brazil reach the end of 2004 with its largest production volume in the last 24 years. Up to the end of the month, the company production line will have outputted 49,000 trucks and buses, 30% more than was registered in 2003. According to company estimates, the sales on the domestic market should reach 32,100 units between trucks and buses.
Up to the end of December, Mercedes also estimates sales of 3,400 Sprinter vans and 5,000 units of their compact A Class car, produced in their factory in the city of Juiz de Fora, in the southeastern Brazilian state of Minas Gerais.
The increase in production also made the company generate more jobs. According to a company spokesperson, DaimlerChrysler Brazil hired 1,800 new people and should end the year with a total of 11,200 employees.
Like other large industries installed in Brazil, stimulated by the improvement in the Brazilian economy, Mercedes informed that in the 2004/2005 two-year period, investment in the company commercial vehicle factory, located in the city of São Bernardo do Campo (in the southeastern Brazilian state of São Paulo), are going to total approximately US$ 190 million. Previously, the company had stated they would invest around US$ 160 million in the period.
