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21 AutoData | December 2018 Christian Castanho T he Delivery family, launched at the last Fenatran, was responsible for the election of Volkswagen Trucks and Buses as the OEM OF Trucks and Buses of the AutoData 2018 Award. Totally developed in Brazil, the line consumed five years of development and investment of more than R$ 1 billion. With it the manufacturer started to offer a model in the light segment, the Delivery Express, and this way, began to compete in all segments of the Brazilian truck market. Produced in Resende, RJ, and exported to several countries in Latin America, the line goes from 3.5 to 13 tons. Sales began with the 6, 9 and 11 tons versions, which in three months exceeded the milestone of 1 thousand units sold. VWCO has adopted concepts of passenger vehicles for the Delivery line with regard to the driveability, comfort and cabin’s interior space. And just like it happens in automobiles, all models have three finish levels: City, the entry model, Trend, intermediate, and Prime, top of the line. The family was designed, developed and tested throughout Latin America, following world certification and quality standards, which helped in stamping their passport to almost all countries that already received the Brazilian Volkswagen trucks. The projection of the company is that in 2020 the total exports of its vehicles reach 15 thousand units, being one third of the Delivery line, alone. The new trucks demanded productive modernization at the factory in Rio de Janeiro: the cabin production line was expanded and now has 37 robots, which raised its automation index to 60%. Delivery models also represented three hundred new jobs there, two hundred in the assembly line. Marco Saltini, director of government and institutional relations at VWCO, understands that “the tradition of the AutoData Award and its importance for the Brazilian automotive industry have already transformed our prize into a great honor, which makes us very proud. It is a little of the recognition of our effort to offer quality products to customers and, more than vehicles, transport solutions, which is our essence, and this way we can contribute to society in terms of mobility. It’s fantastic for us”. “The tradition of the AutoData Award and its importance for the Brazilian automotive industry have already transformed our prize into a great honor, which makes us very proud.” Marco Saltini, director of VWCO Left to right, Jorge Carrer, Viviane Biondo and Marco Saltini