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3 2.25 to 3.9.2019 has still to go through Congress -- is part of a much larger effort, involving the simplification of tax processing, reduction in red tape and infrastructure improvements. “We have to do a tax structure revamp and make processes more straightforward, in order to reduce costs, thus making us competitive in the international markets. Now is the time to make key decisions, so as to improve our competitive hedge and attract new investments. We cannot put up with delays. Brazil needs to care for those who invest here. The exec stated that the 1.1% GNP growth in 2018, announced by IBGE on Thursday 28, “is close to nothing” and that the so-called reforms must go forward if the country is to grow again. According to him, there is a study prepared by Anfavea that points to a competitive disadvantage of 20% vis-à-vis Mexico: “This we cannot recoup. Infrastructure, taxes, social charges, all of these count. Without these, we could doubtless offer our products to many more markets around the world”. Schiemer opened on Thursday 28 the newMercedes-Benz truck cab assembly line with concepts of Industry 4.0 in São Bernardo do Campo, SP, reproducing what had been done last year with the truck assembly line in another building within the same plant site. Since January the plates welded in Juiz de Fora, MG, are assembled with a new productive concept, which, the president reckons, will bring savings of 15% in efficiency and 20% in logistics. The company invested R$ 100 million in this line, which is part of the R$ 2.4 billion being invested in Brazil from 2018 through 2022. According to Schiemer, the technology will reach the production lines of aggregates and bus chassis as well. Schiemer elaborated on his efforts to convince Headquarters to invest in the unit, which reopened a second shift in January only -- and even so, he says, it operates with 50% idle capacity. At any rate, the funds were approved and the factory updated, with concepts not present in any other Daimler plant in the world. “Our plant is ready, we did our share. Now we expect Brazil to do its”.