Scania receives record bus order from Brazil
Scania receives record bus order from Brazil Scania Latin America has received an order for 116 buses from the Gontijo bus company of Belo Horizonte in the Brazilian province of Minas Gerais. The order is the biggest single order for buses ever secured by Scania in its more than 40 years in the Brazilian market. Scania's 4-series intercity buses were launched on the Latin American market during the second half of 1998. "At the end of last year, we delivered the first 4-series buses to Gontijo. The fact that this company, which operates one of the biggest fleets of buses in the world, has now ordered over 100 more vehicles is proof of the market's faith in Scania and of the success of our new generation of buses," comments Åke Brännström, Senior Vice President, Scania Buses. About 2,000 intercity buses were sold in Brazil in 1998. Scania is the market leader in the segment with a market share of 36%. Brazil is Scania's single biggest bus market and approximately 25,000 of the 100,000 buses which the company has produced have been sold there. With the introduction of the 4-series bus range in Latin America, Scania now offers the most modern buses on the market in terms of engine and environmental performance, as well as safety. Of Gontijo's total order for 116 buses, 102 are Scania K124 interurban models. The chassis is equipped with air suspension, and with safety features such as an electronically controlled auxiliary brake (Scania Retarder) and the Scania Comfort Shift electronic gearchanging system. The engine is the latest generation of Scania's 420-hp, 12-litre unit equipped with electronic fuel injection and complying with Euro 2 standards. The buses are bodyworked locally by Busscar. For further information, please contact Hans-Åke Danielsson, Corporate Communications, tel. +46-8-55385662 or +46-70-3468811 (mobile); e-mail: hans-ake.danielsson@scania.com Scania is one of the world's leading manufacturers of trucks and buses for heavy transport applications, and of industrial and marine engines. With 23,500 employees and production facilities in Europe and Latin America, Scania is one of the most profitable companies in its sector. In 1998, turnover totalled SEK 45,300 million and income after financial items SEK 3,200 million. Scania products are marketed in about 100 countries worldwide and approximately 96 percent of total production is sold outside Sweden. Bus manufacture takes place in Sweden, Brazil, Denmark, France and Poland. Scania press releases are available on the Internet at www.scania.com ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/06/09/19990609BIT00370/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/06/09/19990609BIT00370/bit0002.pdf