São Paulo – Mercedes-Benz do Brasil hopes to more than double its truck exports to the Middle East and North Africa this year, according to the company’s press office. In 2016, the company sent 348 trucks to the region.
In all, 202 Atego units, a medium-duty and semi-heavy truck line, and 146 Accelo models, a line ranging from light to medium-duty, were exported. According to the company, the main markets in the region last year were Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.
The two models were selected for exports to the Arab world by Mercedes-Benz do Brasil after the parent company in Germany decided that the Brazilian subsidiary would be responsible to supply medium-duty trucks to this specific market. Sales started at the end of 2015.
In all, the company sold 6,382 trucks abroad last year, or over 25% of its output in the country. Accelo was the best-selling model. “In 2016, we exported over 2,000 Accelo trucks to countries in Latin America and overseas, especially to the Middle East and North Africa,” said Mercedes-Benz do Brasil’s president, Philipp Schiemer, in the company’s statement.
Overall, exports of vehicles and auto parts from Brazil to the Arab world totaled USD 295 million last year, an increase of 153% over 2015. The main destinations were Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, United Arab Emirates and Algeria. The data is from the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Services.
*Translated by Sérgio Kakitani