Trucks: increase of 8% to 10% in sales in 2013

The Brazilian commercial vehicle market is extremely important for global brands and will keep growing, agreed the panelists "the reaction of commercial vehicles", which discussed the scenario of the market for trucks and buses in the IV Forum of the automobile industry, conducted by Automotive Business on Monday, 1st, in the WTC in São Paulo, with the participation of Alcides Chandra, Director of sales and marketing at Iveco; Bernardo Fedalto, Director of sales of Volvo trucks; Oswaldo garden, Chief Operating Officer of Ford Trucks; Ricardo Alouche, Vice President of sales, marketing and after sales of MAN Latin America; Roberto Leoncini, Director-General of Scania Brazil; and Tânia Silvestri, Director of sales and marketing for Mercedes-Benz trucks.
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The expectation for 2013 is to increase sales of 8% to 10%, design executives. For Tânia Silvestri, the growth will be aligned to advance forecast of gross domestic product (GDP), in the order of 3%, and will have more intensity in the segment of heavy and extra heavy, mainly because of the record harvest in agriculture and investments in infrastructure. "In 2011, the carriers anticipated purchases in this segment because of the arrival of the Euro 5, so this was the thread that suffered in 2012 and now will grow" evaluated.
To Alcides Chandra, Iveco, only light commercial (below 3.5 tonnes of PBT) must represent 35 thousand units in 2012. "Added to 150 thousand heavy, we expect 185 thousand units."
Oswaldo Garden, Ford, also shows optimism for the truck market. "Ford hopes growth in two segments in which is strong, light trucks, up to 8 tons, and also with the 6 x 2423 and 2429 models, which are our cars-heads," he said. The automaker will enter the extra segment in the second half. "It's a crowded segment and we'll get in some sub-segments of this sector, which represents 28% of the trucking industry and interests us also to have high added value." Currently, Ford has 14.5% market share from trucks.
CHALLENGES
Among the challenges for the growth of the sector, the commercial vehicle industry representatives highlighted the problems of infrastructure and logistics. To Bernard Fedalto, the issue needs to be resolved if Brazil wants to be competitive. "The cost of infrastructure is adding costs to our products and also to customers in the transportation of cargo," said.
Alcides Chandra recalled the lack of steering wheel professionals: "With the load demand, carriers need more drivers, we must have consistent fleet increase for years to come."
Tania Silvestri believes that, at first, the law of truckers impacted negatively, resulting in lack of professionals, which must improve, she said, the medium and long term. "The lack of drivers is also connected with other factors that discourage these professionals, as the gap in security, little appreciation of the profession and the law goes in that direction, to help attract new professionals."
MARKET
The Brazil is the fourth-largest global market and fifth in production of heavy vehicles. Bernardo Fedalto believes that the Country should take better position than it has today because of the growing demand of the internal market. Roberto Leoncini, Scania, emphasized that if the infrastructure issues are resolved, certainly Brazil will move up one position.
Tania Silvestri believes the heavy trucks segment will continue with greater participation among the commercial vehicles. In 2012, they accounted for 54.2% of the total sales, while midfielders were 28% and buses with 17.8%. For her, agriculture and animal husbandry will continue boosting this performance. "We have important market, with growth trend in all truck segments for different reasons", assessed Tania.
Ricardo Alouche, MAN, believe that due to the improvement of logistics processes there will be greater demand for extra, but in urban centers remain urban vehicles (VUCs) and transportation between cities, mid-sized vehicles.
The Mercedes-Benz Executive reminded of new brands that are coming to Brazil. "The great barrier of entry for new players is the dealer network: the truck market is complex, the client cannot have truck time. Coverage in national territory is the key to ensure success in this market, because the carrier is not willing to let the truck stopped, which means losing money. "
Another concern raised in the Panel was the age of the fleet: 55% of the trucks are in the hand of autonomous and have, on average, 21 years. To Bernardo Fedalto, Volvo, the renewal is essential and the key barriers are access to credit for owners of old trucks and how to get a new truck to a client of 20 years truck. "He's not going to buy in the first step a zero truck. Will buy one of ten years, while the who has a ten years will buy another five, and five will buy zero truck ", elucidated.
To Alcides Chandra, found way to the renewal of the fleet, either by Anfavea, is by the Government, because the solution conflicted in granting credit, which could not prove income. "With the Charter-freight it now may prove. This is very important. With the regulation of the journey of the drivers will be better. Before, the companies were in competition, because stand-alone drove more. With the same journey for everyone, the competitiveness changes ", analyzed. Chandra believes the freelancers will join the companies such as households or drivers. "The fleet depreciated cause disorders, and this increases the cost Brazil", he concluded.