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9 2.11 to 2.16.2019 processes and parts”. Infrastructure bottlenecks, logistical costs and taxes were some of the factors mentioned by the president to justify that higher cost, although having stressed the quality of Brazil’s workforce and the training of Brazilian engineers. Still, Brazil was the great responsible for FCA’s € 359 million EBIT profit in Latin America last year, which contributed to the positive global record of € 7,3 billion, a 34% increase over 2017. Vehicle sales of the company to the Brazilian market advanced 14%, to 434 thousand units - the growth reached 10% in the whole region, accounting for 566 thousand vehicles: “Performance here has helped to compensate for the sales drop in Argentina”. For Filosa, the strategic vision of the company that, with Jeep, bet on the SUV segment, which is growing the most in the Brazilian market, and offers good pickup truck options with Fiat, also with positive performance, helps explain the profit in the region. For 2019, the president projects new sales growth in Brazil, from 8% to 11%, with passenger cars gaining strength because of the return consumption by families. Argentina, according to Filosa, will only return to growth from the second quarter of next year – but from July or August this year, sales will drop, because the basis of comparison is very low. The investments of R$ 14 billion in the region, announced last year, are confirmed. In Betim, MG, a reorganization of the platforms is under way - which will be (at the end of the investment cycle) only two. For the plant in Goiana, PE, the project of attracting more suppliers continues. Filosa’s wish for the unity, which produces Jeep, is to make it an export hub. And, who knows, even produce models of other Chrysler brands, such as RAM’s 1-ton pickup truck –which is in the plans, but without any progress. It is certain that the RAM1500, one of the attractions in the company’s stand at Sao Paulo Auto Show in November, will hit the market in the second half, imported. And the first vehicle of the new phase at the factory inMinas Gerais will arrive in early 2020: “From there, we will have one launch every six months from Betim, until 2021, when the Fiat SUV will arrive. And it looks beautiful!”. Returning to the market leadership, a position taken by General Motors three years ago, is not part of the company’s targets - at least the main ones. According to Filosa, the important thing is to keep delivering positive results like last year, “which does not mean that we do not want to grow in the market. We have space and we will grow. But a comfortable position is the one that allows us to deliver comfortable financial results”.