Delphi bets on development and expansion in the country
Valor Econômico
One of the biggest international manufacturers of autoparts which has just come out of reorganization proceedings that lasted nearly four years, the American Delphi plans to resume the investments in Brazil, due to the positive prospects for the national car sector. This year, the local operation shall receive US$ 40 million, above the average invested every year for the maintenance of the businesses, of US$ 30 million. The figure, however, is below the US$ 60 million invested in 2008, the best year for the local car sector. "We have just opened a plant and we are increasing the production in another. And we will implement new units within the coming years", said the President of Delphi for South America, Gábor Déak.
The bet in the country does not have exclusively commercial focus. For the company, Brazil also represents an important center of technological development, especially in the area of systems for flex-fuel engines. "We don't see in Brazil initiatives to take the flex-fuel technology to other markets, but there may be a great opportunity there", said the International Director of Technology of the company, Andrew Brown, on a visit to São Paulo. According to the Executive, the national industry should "more and more" explore its inclination for the development of small and economic cars - a niche that, in his assessment, presents the greatest potential for growth.
Back to the commercial strategy, Delphi opened in February a new productive unit of wire harnesses (systems of electrical transmission and transmission of data) in Conceição dos Ouros (MG). Besides, it is getting ready to increase the production of variable air conditioning compressors (without the characteristic power switch of the fixed compressors) in the only plant in South America intended for these systems, in Jaguariúna (SP). According to Déak, the current demand for this type of compressor gets to 1.8 million units a year, but the company is unable to meet such demand.
Investments in expansion and the growth of the production and sales of cars in the country should result in an increase of 5% to 10% in the earnings of Delphi in South America in 2010, in accordance with the forecast of the company. Last year, the revenues in the region amounted to US$ 1.03 billion - Brazil, with 11 plants, and Argentina, with one, accounted for 94% of the value -, nearly in line with that seen in 2008.