Mercedes-Benz says it's share of Ford and asks Brazil take care of investors

Mercedes-Benz truck market leader in Brazil, aims to absorb the market share that will be left by Ford, which will leave the thread after decision to close the factory in São Bernardo do Campo (SP), responsible for the production of the automaker's trucks North American. "We're watching and we are able to meet this customer profile (Ford), but it's still early," said the President of Mercedes-Benz in Brazil, Philipp Schiemer, after attending, on Thursday, 28, the opening event of a new line of Assembly of cabins in the Mercedes factory in São Bernardo do Campo. He pointed out that the Sao Bernardo factory account with 50% of idleness, so there is space in the production to absorb customer demand for Ford. This idleness is also one of the reasons for that Mercedes is not interested in buying the competitor factory, located in the same city. The Executive avoided comment on Ford's decision, but stressed that the situation of the trucking industry in Brazil "is complicated for years". However, emphasized the potential of the Brazilian market and trucks and buses and asked that the Country dealt with more "careful" investors who are here. "The result of investment by industry in the GDP is a bad sign. And not investing for obvious reasons, there's a high fiscal deficit which, if not resolved, it is difficult to convince put new money here in Brazil, "he said. "I'm not talking about incentives, but to create the conditions so that we can compete internationally," he said. Schiemer, however, the possibility of the automaker out of Brazil. "Brazil is an important market for us, we're here for 62 years, there is a very good potential for trucks and buses, but the Brazil needs to take care of the investors, and that the pension reform is so important, and not only her, the tax reform also" said. Mercedes-Benz has a plan to invest R $2.4 billion by 2022. The contributions program was announced at the end of 2017. The new line of cabins presented yesterday is the result of an investment of $100 million, a figure that R is on schedule.