11 2015 35 years on the road To understand the importance of the National Association of Roadway Equipment Manufacturers over these 35 years, it is necessary to know some of the history regarding the production of trucks and equipment industrialization in Brazil. The first truck factory in the country was opened in 1920. In nine and a half decades, the road freight transport has grown in importance. And other major global brands have settled in Brazil. With the segment of road equipment, the history has followed a different course thanks to the courage of native Brazilians and recent immigrants, who learned how to build bodies gradually and on their own. At first, and with no government incentives or extensive technical knowledge (with only the basics), they have created small workshops and took on the challenge to repair the already existing bodies in the market, which is an essential service, because the automakers did not have any technical assistance network outside major centers. Some time later, when the mechanics had virtually mastered the maintenance techniques, the workload became more and more sophisticated. Once again, due to market needs, they “had to learn” how to make the first units which were partly hand-assembled. Equipped with courage and endowed with a latent entrepreneurship, the young entrepreneurs changed the course of their business and started a new trend towards industrialization. The first factories of the segment in the country appeared in the late 1940s. The facts confirm that entrepreneurs have been successful, as many of them have built companies and brands with products “Made in Brazil” esteemed worldwide! But the industry had not yet achieved due recognition in Brazil, not even from the authorities, many of whom thought that the body was produced by the truck manufacturer! For all that, entrepreneurs got together and created ANFIR on May 22, 1980. As well as the factories, the organization has gained importance in the national and international scenario. ANFIR distinguishes itself for acting not only on behalf of its members, but also for participating in important decisions for traffic legislation and for contributing to the improvement of transport safety in Brazil. The Editors
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDU0Njk=