VW heads the table in Brazil
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VOLKSWAGEN HAS taken top spot in the Brazilian HG V sales league for the first time since opening its dedicated truck plant at Resende. near Rio de Janeiro in 1994.
It overtook Mercedes-Benz, the traditional market leader. with sales of 21,070 vehicles with payloads over seven tonnes to take 34.3% of the market. This success was due to demand for the "Titano" tractor with its Cummins 303hp engine: sales may have been boosted by a Brazilian weekly TV series called "Carga Pesada" (Heavy Load) featuring the adventures of two drivers in a Titano.
However, Mercedes-Benz remains overall market leader when "semi-light" vehicles are taken into account.
Roberto Cortes, vice-president of VW Truck and Bus, readily admits that VW trucks in this market are "spartan". It seems their basic spec and lack of complex electronic engine management systems suit Bra7ilian operators.