37 efficient communication program so that other sectors would learn about the transport implement industry, its capabilities, and needs. It was broadly believed that truck manufacturers also made implements, and this misunderstanding led to disadvantages, such as when applying for financing from private banks, or including implements in government incentive programs. The business community, however, managed to remove this stigma and demonstrate its industrial capacity. Despite its low profile among government officials, in the media, and other communications organizations, the transport implement industry had an excellent reputation among manufacturers owing to its technical expertise and adaptation to Brazil’s often poor road conditions. So much so that the sector became known abroad and ANFIR began to attract new members. The diversification of pillars - Having raised its institutional relevance to previously unimagined levels, ANFIR expanded its portfolio to other equally important areas, such as safety. It developed programs and made itself available to collaborate with public sectors in product and legislation development to make implements even safer for truck occupants and all road users, be they pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, or drivers. As a result, ANFIR headed up Brazilian Committee 39 (CB 39) at the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (ABNT), which draws up terminology, requirements, test methods, and general policies for Brazilian road transport implements. A partnership with the then National Traffic Department (Denatran) made ANFIR a channel for registering new products with the National Registry of Motor Vehicles (RENAVAM). Through this association, implement manufacturers also participate in the Thematic Chamber of Vehicle Affairs and advise the National Traffic Council (Contran), responsible for drafting laws and regulations that govern vehicle traffic parameters in Brazil. Examples include the anti-lock braking system (ABS) and side and rear protection for truck bodies, which prevent people, bicycles, motorcycles, and cars from being thrown under vehicles. These were recommendations made by ANFIR that became standards adopted by road transport implement manufacturers across Brazil. Lauro Pastre Júnior recalls that over these 45 years, ANFIR has evolved from an association representing a small group of competitors to a large national organization. In 2014, during the first term of President Alcides Braga, ANFIR signed a Cooperation Agreement with the National Institute of Metrology, Quality, and Technology (INMETRO), resulting in the donation of a mobile laboratory to contribute to the certification and regulation of road implements (called Metromóvel). During his second term, from 2015 to 2018, Braga argued that the world was undergoing changes and that these transformations posed challenges not only for the implement sector but also for society and policymakers. ANFIR’s scope then expanded from the technological field to the sustainability of the planet. It began to discuss topics related to the rational use of water, energy conservation, and social programs run by companies in the sector, in line with guidelines for the entire automotive industry. Also at that time, ANFIR felt the need to expand business opportunities, as the domestic market had fallen by more than 50% between 2013 and 2015 (from 177,900 to 88,300 road implements). In 2016, the Technical Cooperation Agreement with PRONAF, the National Program for Strengthening Family Agriculture, and the More Food Program allowed the inclusion of road implements in financing policies for small producers, increasing business opportunities within Brazil. Other initiatives making the Brazilian market more dynamic included ANFIR’s more active participation in the International Road Freight Transport Show (Fenatran), always attended by members, and the Project Buyer, run in various states in Brazil to help manufacturers and customers network, facilitating trade and promoting innovation in the sector. Expanding horizons with Move Brasil - Another high point in 2016 was the creation of Move Brasil, resulting from a partnership with the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil), which has been renewed frequently. This partnership strengthened international expansion and the competitiveness of the sector through international agreements and frequent participation in global events, raising the profile of Brazilian products. The financial and strategic support provided by the agreement allowed Brazilian companies to enter previously underexplored markets, such as Africa and Central America. In 2016, the number of exports recorded by ANFIR grew by 18.9% year on year. Between 2016 and 2024, members exported 36,900 road transport implements, according to proprietary data. In the last eight years, ANFIR has run a series of trade missions and business rounds in various countries, including Colombia, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, the United States, and South Africa. These initiatives have allowed diversification by international clients. According to the current President of the association, José Carlos Spricigo, the program has been very useful in expanding exports and raising the profile of Brazilian products. Members recognize that participation in global shows, such as IAA Transportation in Germany and the Mid America Truck Show in the United States, has boosted the image of Brazilian companies and attracted foreign investment. Brazil’s road transport implement industry has been able to diversify its revenue sources, reducing its dependence on domestic sales and mitigating the impacts of economic fluctuations, which are common in Brazil. International partnerships and participating in strategic events have kept the sector on an upward curve.
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