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83 AutoData | October 2018 “Except for the construction industry all sectors are demanding new trucks, mainly heavy. With a higher GDP next year, at 2.5%, there will be more sales and business opportunities”. Cortes’s optimism contrasts with the caution of his colleagues from other companies of the segment, who in their vast majority prefer to wait for the presidential election result to definitively stablish their projections for 2019 - including restrictions for the macroeconomic scenario depending on the Brazilian president elected. The president of Volkswagen Trucks and MAN, however, has the belief that, regardless of the candidate who becomes the winner, the objective of his mandate will be to pursue Closing 2018 Closing 2019 Total market Increase of 40% GDP 2,5% economic growth. “We will have a pro-market president, anyway. The industry will grow 40% this year, which paves the road for the double digits next year.” He also believes that, even in a scenario in which the GDP takes a little longer to reach a 2.5% growth, the market will have evolution guaranteed by repressed demand in 2019: “We will see a series of fleet renovation, because the business model of the big fleet owner is also based on the assets valorization. The older the truck the more devalued it is and, therefore, worse for the result. Even if there is any doubt about Brazil’s situation, these companies will need to renew their fleets”. Even if there is any doubt regarding the situation of Brazil, the big fleet owners will need to renew their fleets. Roberto Cortes