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PASSENGER SERVICES IN LATIN-AMERICA.
Page 113
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Rapid Growth in the Use of the Road Passenger Vehicle in the Past Five Years. Better Roads Will Aid Development of the Services.
(By a Special Correspondent) THE two most significant features at the present time in the, development of Latin-American republics are the intensive schemes for road construction (not merely mooted, but being DIM carried into effect) and the Sudden growth in important centres of public motor passenger services. Both of these facts are of immense importance to British manufacturers of commercial Motor vehicles of every description.
Writing in these columns a couple of years ago I pointed out, that in all the republics at that time the 'United States was dominant. This remains true and is due to a number of causes, of which high British manufacturing cost is but one. In Brazil 50 per cent. of all motor vehicles are Fords, 30 per cent, are of other American makes, and 20 per cent, emanate from England and the Continent. There are over 10,000 passenger vehicles registered in Chile, most of which have been supplied by the United States. The same state of affairs obtains in the Argentine and Uruguay. .The coming of the motor omnibus passenger service Is a phenomenon of comparatively recent growth. Five years ago there was not a single omnibus (so far as the writer can recollect) on the streets of Buenos Aires—the city in which the development first showed itself. Then, with increasing traffic congestion and the failure of train, tram and underground to cope with the surging crowds during the "rush" hours, a few solitary single-deck buses commenced to ply between the centre and certain inadequately served suburbs, making their route along the less frequented thoroughfares. These buses were equipped with heavy locally built coachwork on a light chassis, were operated by small local concerns, and worked without any permanent concession from the municipality.
Large Fleets of Buses the Next Step.
Gradually these miniature fleets have increased in number and improved in design until, at the present time, there is a heterogeneous and steadily growing service running without any particular uniformity or co-ordination. The next step in the evolution of the local transport facilities will, undoubtedly, be the coming into existence of large and responsible omnibus companies who will run large fleets of buses under definite, permanent arrangement with the Buenos Aires municipality. The constant demand for inCreased travelling facilities on the part of the city's pOpulation of nearly two million makes it certain that this development will not long be delayed. Even the construction of the proposed new -underground rail ways will do but little to relieve the existing congestion. • . That the business openings offered to British makers by these developments are of the greatest importance is Unquestionable. Take Argentina alone. On January 1st 1926; there were no fewer than 1,050 buses of 'Various types' hi Operation in Buenas Aires and some of' the principal provincial centres. • . Over 40 buS' routes are 'operating in.the city and suburbs of Bbehos Aires. Other provincial _towns in Argentina have each at least one motorbus line. The Services in Buenos Aires are between the different railway stations to the Plaza de Mayo, Congreso and Italia, as well as to BeIgrano and other suburbs. The system is interconnecting and traffic is heavy throughout the day. It is stated that the buses are kept in continual operation and that they constantly carry passengers in excess of their seating capacity in order that a profit may be made in.spite of the low fares which prevail.
Standard bus and lorry chassis are In use, most of them being of American manufacture and of 2-ton to 5-ton capacity. A few British, German and Swiss makes of chassis are also in use on Some routes in Buenos Aires.
Who Will Supply—Great Britain or America ?
The question that British manufacturers must ask themselves is: "Who is going to supply this new and growing demand—ourselves or the United States?" The answer to the question depends upon a number of factors—a careful study of the market and its requirements, the prices quoted and services rendered by foreign competitors in comparison with our own prices and services, the provision Of adequate propaganda, the securing of a first-class agent or opening of a branch house, etc.
That British manufacturers can supply the type of vehicle in local demand is, of course, .beyond question.
It should be noted that there is no demand for bodies, The excellent work turned out by those engaged in the bodybuilding industry Of the country militates against the importation of foreign bodies. The local price of a 24-Seater single-deck bus body, built of oak and ash, completely fitted with cane seats, and finished in good-quality paint and varnish, is approximately £400.
There can be little doubt that the supplying of ..motor passenger vehicles will become an extremely important branch of the activities of motor manufacturers exporting to Latin-Anierita and it Is in the highest degree desirable that British makers should Investigate the 20-odd markets of the continent without delay.
The most important factor affecting the future development of public motor passenger services is undoubtedly the question of road construction. There Is no question that these highly• important LatinAmerican markets; with their immense 'undeveloped resources, have hitherto been limited in their expansion by an inadequate (and, in many cases, noneicistent). road system, just as there is equally no doubt that the progress achieved by Some of them—notably Argentina—is principally due to the excellent railway systent brought into being by British capital and British enterprise.. .
, The Coming of a 'Good. System of Roads.
But, in a continent of .vast spaces, railway systems, however good, can only partially assist in exploitin-g the immense natural resources; hence the extreme importance of a very' realboom' in road-building which Is in evidence throughout Latin-America. , At the present , time roads are not merely being planned— they, are being built.In Argentina, Brazil, Chile, ,•Uruguay, Peru, Bolivia and many, of . the' sthaller republics good main roads laid out with a view tir motor traffic are everywhere coming into being.' .
Our competitors are fully alive to the importance ,of these developments and are -straining every nerve to preserve their monopoly of existing spheres of demand and to capture new .business in, the smaller markets as-and when it arises. The time for British _concerns to make a hid for this trade is now—before the oppor tunity passes. . . _