Trucking in the tropics
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and an extraordinarily diverse population: the demand for commercial vehicles is large and expanding fast, so manufacturers are crowding to fill the market. At this year's Fenatran truck show in Sao Paulo, the biggest news was lveco's entry to Brazil with a full range of vans, rigids and artics. it faces stiff competition from a host of European and American manufacturers, with home-grown chassis and equipment built up to the highest international standards. But the prize is substantial: a stake in the rapidly growing Mercosul economic community of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.
• The biggest truck manufacturer in Brazil is Mercedes-Benz, with 250 dealers and 39% of the 7.0-tonne-plus market. These 1-Series "conventional" (bonneted) tractors are based on the SK model. Mercedes' Sprinter has created a new demand for panel vans: built in Argentina, it is fitted with a Maxion 2.5-litre diesel rated at 94hp (70kW)—the first nonMercedes engine ever fitted to a Mercedes.
• Volkswagen takes over half of Brazilian car sales; now it has moved into trucks. The range uses the old LT cab, with engines from MWM and Cummins, for train weights up to 35 tonnes. The 16.220 shown here features the perennial Cummins/Eaton/Rockwell driveline.
• GM sells these bonneted US-style medium trucks alongside forward-control models with the unusual combination of lsuzu cabs and Caterpillar engines. • Ironically, some of Iveco Fiat's competition will come from the original Cargo, still built and sold in Brazil by Ford. Lightweight 4x2 tractive units, 6x4 rigids and a new 6x4 tipper chassis are powered by Cummins C-Series engines rated at up to 287hp (214kW).
• Ford has just introduced this neat Courier pickup, developed in Europe for South America. Powered by 1.3 or 1.4-litre petrol engines, the Courier—available with options such as air-conditioning—would be a success in any market. Superb details include an opening rear window and sturdy lashing points.
• The main home-grown competition comes from Agrale, founded in 1965, whose 7-10tonne chassis, powered by MWM engines, are fitted with forward-control cabs reminiscent of Japanese models. The company is about to set up a deal with US firm Navistar to produce the 4000 and 9000-Series heavy trucks, powered by Cummins—the aim is to build 5,000 trucks each year.
• One of Brazil's premier trailer-builders is Randon, which showed this handsome all-aluminium tipper complete with Rockwell disc brakes.
Iveco has a tough job ahead of it in Brazil, starting from scratch in a huge market where an effective sales and service operation is vital. With a network of 20 dealers now, and 52 foreseen for next year, the company predicts sales of about 19,500 Daily variants and 9,000 medium and heavy trucks annually by 2000. Trading as Iveco Fiat, the company is initially introducing the Daily—already assembled in Argentina—followed by the EuroCargo, EuroTrakker and EuroTech; eventually,
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Mercosul area.