Bus body production abroad reached 2,018 units, so 64.9% more than 2009; In South Africa, there was an increase of 282% thanks to the Football World Cup; In India, growth reached 211% and it is the highest from Plants out of Brazil.
Marcopolo, one of the most important bus body builders got better performance in the first trimester of 2010 than the last year´s one, net profit of R$ 69.1 million and worldwide in companies production of 6,134 units.
The result shows a growth of 46.6% of net income (R$ 463.4 million in the first trimester of 2009) and of 55.9% of Marcopolo’s worldwide bus body production (3,935 units built in the last year´s one).
Since last year, in order to supply bus bodies to the Football World Cup, business done reached almost 700 units and, besides the meaningful growth of production in India Plants 211.3% - the most important Country that made such a good performance.
In South Africa, Marcopolo bus body’s production inside its plant plus PKD Buses sent since Brazil and coupled locally resulted in a growth of 282.6%. A number of 264 buses were assembled in the last trimester; last year’s they were 69 units only. FIFA coaches to be delivered to National Teams and transport systems in the cities, which will receive those games, it started in January and it will be finished in May.
Selling those coaches to the World Cup was fundamental to Marcopolo excellent results in this first trimester, as the great number of units as the high value of those coaches. Models: intercity of high luxury and city articulated extremely modern make Marcopolo gets high business margin says Mr. CEO José Rubens de la Rosa.
In India, in the first trimester, 1,320 bus body units were built from both Plants that Marcopolo has with partnership with Tata Motors. India operation achieves a status of the largest production Plant out of Brazil, regarding to volume of units. India Plants forecast this year is overcome the number of 6,000 units, so It intends to be greater than the Main Plant in Brazil.
Other Subsidiaries abroad also showed an increase, exception for Mexico. In Colombia, 189 units were built, 8.6% larger than 2009. In Egypt, a new Plant, a joint venture with GB AUTO reached a bus production number of 105 vehicles, supplied to the local market. In Argentina, the increase was 17.5% with 134 units. Only in Mexico production decreased due to last year´s world wide crises, only 85 buses. Local market has just given a better signal to recover in the second semester, says Mr. De la Rosa.
Growth also in Brazil
Marcoplo business inside the Brazilian market has been hot, its performance: it grew 51.8% so it followed abroad markets. A number of 4,116 units were built compared to 2,711 units from last year´s first trimester, so a huge increase.
According to Mr. Jose Rubens de la Rosa, Launch of Generation 7 coaches, new range of products, taken last August and proceeding of Federal Brazilian Tender won for interstate buses were the main booming aspect to sales growing. The decision to launch a new modern family of buses and coaches last year was deep right as fleet owner started to renew their fleet at the same moment. The result is 1.5 thousand units of Generation 7 has already been manufactured, CEO analyses it.
City models increased 71.5%, a production of 1,331 units, last year´s there were 776. Finame financing line from Federal Government was decisive to fleet owner decide for renewing, with low rates and longer terms of payments.
Perspectives for 2010
Marcopolo kept the projection to achieve a net revenue of R$ 2.55 Billion and production of 24,700 units in 2010. So It believes that the hot demand for buses and coaches in Brazil will continue, mainly in Brazil must continue strong. A good example is: the School Program from federal Brazilian Government. From a recent Tender, Marcopolo acquired the right to supply, directly or indirectly, 2,450 school buses along this year.
