AD_MAGAZINE_349

10 October 2018 | AutoData By André Barros Howdo you evaluate the sector’s situa- tion today, in the general scenario? Although a slower recovery shown by the Brazilian economy, our auto industry has had a faster pace. Vehicle production grew24% last year and the economywas almost at zero. This year, the economy is expected to increase at the house of 1% and we are pointing to the possibility of expanding another 12% in production. The domestic market has also surprised us in recent months, more favorable than we had imagined. On the other hand, exports started to fall and the decrease will be more accentuated because Ar- gentina takes almost 70% of our volume and it is going through a crisis that slows down its domestic consumption. What are the numbers to close the year? The production will reach a little more than 3 million vehicles. It will be a very good year, if it is not compared to 2013. Since the end of 2016 we have lived a good recovery, much stronger than the economy. Does Sindipeças see any threat to this recovery? Only a change in the Brazilian economic scenario. If the required reforms do not occur next year, Brazil will face a fiscal difficulty that will alter this macroecono- mic situation. On the other hand, if there is a minimally adequate fiscal solution, we may be surprised for the favorable side, keeping interest rate and inflation lowbut with the spirit to invest that does not exist today. And it accelerates the rest of the economy, generating more jobs, more salary, which is very good for an industry like ours. Is there optimism regarding 2019? We are assuming a 5% growth in pro- duction compared to 2018. I would not call it as optimism: we are talking about a market that is still far belowwhat it used to be. We don’t anticipate a decrease in production next year, but it could ha- FROM THE TOP » DAN IOSCHPE, SINDIPEÇAS BETTER, BUT STILL FAR FROM WHAT IT USED TO BE