It was 1956 when Mercedes-Benz do Brasil kicked off production in South America, and now, some 52 years later, the company has grown to become Latin America's largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles.  In total, more than 1,600,000 commercial vehicles have been produced at the Brazil facility, with nearly 28,000 Mercedes-Benz trucks sold in the country just last year.

According to Gero Herrmann, Mercedes-Benz do Brasil president, “We are very proud of the market position we reached in Brazil with the production of 1,140,000 trucks and 500,000 buses. This is an unprecedented volume among manufacturers of commercial vehicles in the country."

In terms of market share, Mercedes-Benz trucks lead the way in Brazil, with 29 percent of heavy-duty segment vehicles sold in 2007 boasting the three-pointed star.  For the truck segment as a whole, 50 percent of the circulating truck fleet were produced at MB's São Bernardo do Campo location.

As if that isn't impressive enough, the company notes an even stronger dominance in the Brazilian bus sector, with 70 percent of buses in operation of the MB variety. Last year alone, Mercedes noted sales of 12,600 buses in Brazil - a number that amounts to 52 percent of the entire bus market.

Impressive figures, to say the least.

To learn more about Mercedes-Benz do Brasil and their milestone achievements over the past 52 years, you can find the full details in the official press release below.

Enjoy.



OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE


Mercedes-Benz do Brasil is Latin America’s biggest manufacturer of commercial vehicles

• More than 1,600,000 commercial vehicles produced in 52 years
  
  
• Company is historical sales leader of buses and heavy trucks
  
  
• 5 of every ten trucks circulating in Brazil are branded with
  Mercedes-Benz
  
  
• 7 of every 10 buses circulating in the country are from Mercedes-Benz

São Bernardo do Campo – Mercedes-Benz do Brasil reached a record of more than 1,600,000 commercial vehicles produced in Brazil. The biggest manufacturer of commercial vehicles in Latin America started its activities in the country in 1956. “We are very proud of the market position we reached in Brazil with the production of 1,140,000 trucks and 500,000 buses. This is an unprecedented volume among manufacturers of commercial vehicles in the country”, says Gero Herrmann, Company president.

With nearly 28,000 Mercedes-Benz trucks sold in Brazil in 2007. The brand with the star is the market leader with a market share of 29% in the heavy-duty segment. In total, 50% of the circulating truck fleet in Brazil are produced in São Bernardo do Campo.
A high level of Mercedes-Benz’s participation is also noticed in the Brazilian circulating bus fleet, currently with 70%. Last year, the company registered a sales volume of more than 12,600 units in Brazil, which represents a share of 52%, market leader in the segment.

The quality of the products manufactured by Mercedes-Benz do Brasil is recognized internationally. Trucks and buses are sold in Latin America and in several other continents. Among the major markets are Argentina, Chile, Peru, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Jordania.

The company is also the biggest exporter of commercial vehicles in Latin America. In total, around 180,000 Mercedes-Benz trucks produced in Brazil were exported since 1965. Recently, the brand surpassed the milestone of 150,000 buses exported since 1961.

Today, the plant in São Bernardo do Campo has around 12,000 employees and produces daily 260 vehicles between trucks and buses. It is a world competence center of Daimler AG for the development and production of bus chassis of the Mercedes-Benz brand. The exclusive assembly line of bus chassis is a benchmark for other group companies worldwide, due to the implementation of production optimization programs, as just in time and improvement as kaizen.

In its unit of São Bernardo do Campo, Mercedes-Benz do Brasil counts with the biggest Technological Development Center – CDT of Daimler AG outside Germany, where it develops and tests the products and the technologies applied to buses, trucks and aggregates. A pioneering activity center in Brazil, this CDT is also the biggest in Latin America among all manufacturers of commercial vehicles.

Copyright © 2008, Daimler AG