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Colombia Resumes Taxing Vehicles from Brazil

BRAZIL/SOUTH AMERICA REPORT 

Starting in 2025, vehicle exports from Brazil to Colombia will once again be taxed at a 54% rate. The tax exemption agreement, in place since 2017, will not be renewed. According to the Colombian government, this decision is designed to protect its local automotive industry, currently dominated by Renault. This is a setback for Brazilian manufacturers, who exported fewer vehicles in 2024, with a 30% drop compared to the previous year.

Source: Automotive Business     Read The Article

PSR Analysis: This means an important reduction of exports from Brazil, affecting some OEM exports severely; for others, there will be no impact. These production impacts are already deployed in the forecast in OE Link database.

Fabio Ferraresi is Director, Business Development-South America, for Power Systems Research

Marcopolo Volare Unveils Hybrid Ethanol 1.0 Micro Bus

BRAZIL/SOUTH AMERICA REPORT 
Fabio Ferraresi
Fabio Ferraresi

During Latbus 2024 in São Paulo, Volare unveiled its Attack 9 HVE, Brazil’s pioneering ethanol hybrid minibus. The project is being developed by Volare, a division of the Marcopolo group, in collaboration with Horse and WEG. Although presented in 2024, the official market release is scheduled for 2026.

The vehicle is powered by a 1.0-liter, three-cylinder ethanol engine supplied by Horse, which also functions as an electric generator. This generator supplies energy to recharge the batteries of WEG’s electric drive system. The internal combustion engine operates for only one-third of the vehicle’s total operational time, maintaining an optimal rotational speed of approximately 3,000 rpm.

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Frasle Mobility To Buy Mexican Kuo’s Dacomsa for $389 Million

Fabio Ferraresi
Fabio Ferraresi

Brazilian auto parts producer Frasle Mobility said (July 8, 2024) it has agreed to buy Mexican auto spare parts distributor Dacomsa from Mexico’s Grupo Kuo S.A.B de C.V. for 2.1 billion reais ($389.5 million).

With the deal, Frasle Mobility, formerly known as Fras-le, said it would also acquire the Dacomsa-owned Kuo Motor and Fritec firms, as well as some tangible and intangibles assets related to those companies, according to a securities filing.

Frasle Mobility also expects to earn some 300 million reais with synergies to be generated from the deal – as measured by earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) – in a five-year period, a presentation by the firm showed.

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Brazil Truck Production Grows Significantly

BRAZIL/SOUTH AMERICA REPORT 

Brazil truck production reached almost 64,40 units in the first half of this year, an increase of 36.5% over the same period in 2023

In June, 12,200 trucks were manufactured, a 74.1% increase compared to the same period last year.

Heavy truck sales also grew. In the first six months of this year, 56,800 trucks were sold, an increase of 8%. Last month, 10,000 trucks were sold, a 26.6% increase compared to June 2023.

Source: Automotive Business    Read The Article

PSR Analysis: The production growth was expected due to the pre-production effect with P8 introduction in 2023. The good news is the 26% sales increase in June compared to the same period in 2023, which reinforces the confidence in the Truck Market in the region. PSR

Fabio Ferraresi is Director, Business Development-South America, for Power Systems Research

JCB Invests To Double Its Size in Latin America

BRAZIL/SOUTH AMERICA REPORT 
Fabio Ferraresi
Fabio Ferraresi

JCB has unveiled the largest investment in its history in Latin America. It will inject US$ 100 million into its Latin American operations with the goal of doubling its size in the region by 2030.

The majority of the resources, US$ 70 million, will be allocated to factory expansion. According to JCB, US$ 30 million will be invested in the modernization of the Sorocaba (SP) facility.

An additional US$ 10 million is earmarked for the development of new products and the localization of certain equipment. Another US$ 10 million will be directed towards the distributor network.

The company says this investment is expected to generate 1,000 new jobs: 300 direct and 700 indirect. Currently, JCB employs 600 people in Latin America, most of whom are based in Sorocaba, which serves as the production hub for the entire region.

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Ford To Manufacture Ranger Engines in Argentina

Ford has announced the production of 2.0 and 3.0 V6 engines for the new Ranger in Argentina. The engines will be manufactured at the General Pacheco plant, where Ford has been producing the pickup since 2023.

Initially, only the Lion 3.0 V6 engine will be produced in Argentina. In the second half of the year, the 2.0 engine will also begin production in Pacheco. Ford has not disclosed the localization rates for each engine. Previously, the Panther 2.0 engine (170 hp and 41.2 kgfm) was sourced from India, while the Lion 3.0 V6 engine (250 hp and 61.3 kgfm) was imported from England.

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Agrishow 2024 Reports US$ 2.6 Billion in Business

Fabio Ferraresi
Fabio Ferraresi

Agrishow 2024 posted R$ 13.6 billion (US$ 2.6 Billion) in business, 2.4% higher than that recorded in 2023.

With 520,000 square meters and 800 booths, the almost three-decade-old event in Ribeirão Preto (SP) received 195,000 people for five days, from small, medium and large Brazilian producers to representatives of international companies. Four representatives of our PSR senior team in South America attended the Show to gather information and data.

Considered one of the largest open-air fairs in the world focused on agribusiness, Agrishow is not only a thermometer of the country’s economic activity but also a showcase of the latest in field technology, from agriculture to livestock.

In addition to large harvesters, planters, and state-of-the-art tractors–including electrically powered models—exhibitors displayed innovations in robots and drones, with more and more applications in farming and features such as greater load capacity and remote control.

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Heavy Rains Batter Brazilian OEM Operations

BRAZIL/SOUTH AMERICA REPORT 

Recent heavy rainfall in Rio Grande do Sul has led to production disruptions in many automotive OEM operations located in the region, including GM, AGCO, Marcopolo, John Deere, Randon, and auto parts manufacturers like Fras-le. Despite this, automakers and auto parts companies are gaining control over production operations. However, logistical challenges persist, raising concerns.

Both Anfavea, representing automakers, and Sindipeças, representing the components sector, express worry about the production flow from these companies in Rio Grande do Sul, which serve domestic and international demands, presenting an unpredictable aspect currently.

The initial expectation for vehicle production was to remain steady despite the rains, as Gravataí and the Serra Gaúcha region, where most automakers operate, remain largely unaffected. However, parts production in Porto Alegre faced important disruptions due to many manufacturers being located in flood-affected areas in the region and the transportation from production areas to OEMs was severely affected. Some OEMs—such as GM, Stellantis and Volkswagen–already announced temporary plant shutdowns.

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John Deere Announces Investments in Brazil

BRAZIL/SOUTH AMERICA REPORT 
Fabio Ferraresi
Fabio Ferraresi

John Deere, has announced the acquisition of the condominium housing the company’s regional office in Indaiatuba (SP) and the Parts Distribution Center for South America (SA-PDC) in Campinas (SP), along with adjacent land for future expansion. The company also recently has acquired two plots in the Montenegro Industrial District (RS). These investments are part of the company’s ongoing commitment to development and expansion in the national market.

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