09/25/2008 08h55
Volkswagen raises investment in cars
Valor Econômico - 09/25/2008
President of Volkswagen in Brazil Thomas Schmall affirmed yesterday that the company will increase investments in the country regarding the package that had already been informed last year, which would release R$ 3.2 billion (US$ 1.66 billion) between 2007 and 2001. Schmall, who launched the new Voyage in Florianópolis (SC), did not reveal the value that will be added, but he said that already in 2009 investments will be 43% bigger than what was invested in 2008, and that the São Carlos (SP) plant will receive a relevant share to be "one of the best motor units of the company". The additional funds to the R$ 3.2 billion (US$ 1.66 billion) package shall be announced in the next weeks and still depend on the approval of the headquarters in Germany. By now, he emphasized that the plans are to expand the already existing plants, with increase of 20% in production, including São José dos Pinhais (PR), Taubaté (SP), São Bernardo do Campo (SP) and São Carlos (SP), from 2009 to 2011. And they also intend to (grow) increase importation to meet the demand of the domestic market. The imported volume should leap from 28 thousand vehicles, in 2007 to 80 thousand, in 2009, 65% of which from Argentina. Volkswagen sees the national situation as still favorable, although the increase of interests, an indication of deceleration in credit and of turbulences in the international market. The company will grow 23% in sales in 2008 in the domestic market, and in 2009, the expectation is of 10% bigger sales. The production in 2008 will reach 800 thousand and in 2009 will exceed 900 thousand vehicles. According to Schamll, Brazil will keep the position of second biggest market of the maker this year, behind China. And he pointed out that the company continues striving for the leadership in the national market, which is currently Fiat's. "But (to achieve the leadership) we need to work our portfolio harder. And we will launch also more cars next year. More than we did this year". At least one more will be part of the Gol's family. Despite the unfavorable exchange rate, there are no plans to reduce exportations significantly. In 2008, it will export 200 thousand cars, the same volume of 2007, and it projects 150 thousand units a year in export in the long term. Voyage, whose production stopped 12 years ago, marks the return of the car maker in the sedan segment, in which it will compete against Renault's Logan and the Ford's Fiesta Sedan. In 2002, sedans represented 6.8 % of the national market and reached 15% in 2007. It will be made in Taubaté (SP) and the production projection is 90 thousand vehicles in one year, including exportation to Mexico and Argentina, whose volumes were not disclosed. He estimated that the sales in the Brazilian market in general should reach 4 million vehicles in 2012.
