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44 October 2018 | AutoData PERSPECTIVES 2019 » SYSTEMS SUPPLIERS Continental maintains an investment plan for the coming years in Brazil, with a special focus especially on the mandatory schedule of the ESC, Stability Control Sys- tem, from 2020 on: “We see SouthAmerica as a strategic market”. Another company to see a double- -digit growth in its 2018 balance sheet is Schaeffler, according to Marcos Zavanella, its president and CEO for South America: from 13% to 15%. As for 2019, still cautious environment: “There is an ongoing electoral process that can bring new variables to the ma- rket. The positive expectation is for the approval of Rota 2030 as an instrument to establish long-term rules and security for investments. The resumption of growth in Argentina in 2019 would also be a very positive factor”. As for Bosch, the CEO and President for Latin America, Besaliel Botelho, says that “this is a year of recovery, but we see a slowdown due to the exchange rate and the uncertainties regarding the elections. It is difficult to predict the impact, but pro- bably our projection of a 10% increase over last year may be corrected”. For the next year he considers that “many things will depend on the behavior of the economy, the exchange, inflation and interest rate. Let’s wait, but it doesn’t seems to me that we will have a heated 2019, economically speaking”. Meritor, following the strong recovery of the market of trucks and buses, estimates that its production will grow close to 45% this year compared to 2017. But Kleber As- santi, its sales, marketing and aftermarket director for South America, recalls that in 2011 the company produced 15 thou- sand axles per month, a volume that at the height of the crisis in the commercial segment declined to 3.3 thousand units, also monthly: “Until mid-2017 we were in a productive pace of 4 thousand axles per month, andwe reached an average close to 7 thousand monthly units this year”. For the coming year, the expectation is for a new rise, now 13%. Recently the company has invested US$ 15 million in product portfolio and exports to Asia and North America, which helped us contain the troubles”. For next year, Santos’s accounts indi- cate growth, but depending on the sce- nario evolution can vary a lot, from 3% to 7%: “We continue to believe in the region and in Brazil. We will have an important investment plan and product launches”. In the case of Basf, 2018was going very well until the truck drivers’ strike. For Gisela Pinheiro, vice president of materials and functional solutions, “it threwcoldwater on us” - but anyway the company estimates to close 2018 at an increase of 11% to 12%: “Wewill close the yearwell, bringing good expectations for 2019.” For her, regardless of the candidate who wins the election, there will be no extreme changes in the macroeconomic environment. Continental has a similar case. Accor- ding to Frédéric Sebbagh, President for Brazil and Argentina, 2018 should bring a growth of around 5%: “We were doing well at the beginning of the year, with a strong boost in the first four months, but the truckers’ strike generated doubts not only in the automotive sector but in the Brazilian industry overall”. The executive closely follows the de- velopments of Rota 2030: “We expect it to be regulated until November because the program is positive in fostering a se- arch for competitiveness and technology, with a development trend for tier 2 and 3 suppliers”. Most of the systems suppliers are waiting for the approval of Rota 2030 by the Congress to begin their investment plan, with an eye on the automakers’ orders