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34 August 2018 | AutoData MARKET » BUSES bidding”, attests Vardânega. The executive affirms that of all projects of this type the only one that has been finalized was of Curitiba, PR, which Volvo provided all the 25 vehicles of the competitiveness, some of them already being used in the city. But not everything is lamentation, if in the city buses in São Paulo’s bid frustrated all manufacturers there is optimism on the coach buses, especially for Scania: «We believe it should grow around 60% compared to 2017», calculates Frizeiro. Barbosa, of Mercedes-Benz, is more careful in the total calculations: «At the end of 2017 there was a big federal bi- dding for school vehicles that may not be delivered this year. Maybe about eighty vehicles can be delivered from August, but the rest will be delivered in 2019”. Carrer, of MAN, prefers to await the result of the presidential elections for tho- se who know how to project even better numbers. «The scenario should clear up after we know the result of the lawsuit. We are optimistic about the economy, we believe it is possible to grow a little more.» Unanimity is that the market has been affected by the revenue and passengers decrease, an aggravated scenario due to the operational cost: it is difficult to reco- ver the margins and this will be the main challenge from now on. “From September on, all new coach buses must have a lift platform, and many business owners have anticipated their purchases to avoid the extra cost for the adaptation.” Walter Barbosa, Mercedes-Benz gger growth if, overall, we had a more favorable political and economic envi- ronment”. There is the other side, however: the suspension of the bidding process of the city of São Paulo will bring negative effects. “The delay of São Paulo’s bidding will bring about a renewal postponement of the system”, says Alan Frizeiro of Scania. “But we noticed, even without the bidding, a renewal movement, even if it is not in the expected levels. But some companies are buying.” Volvo also feels sorry for it: “Unfortuna- tely the biddings, renewals and changes foreseen to 2018 will not happen, and of these, the main vector was São Paulo’s IT HAS GONE TOO FAR Complex equation: at the same time that the operational cost has increased the number of passengers decreased, taking away the revenue of the companies as well. Disclousure/Mercedes-Benz Disclousure/Volvo