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10 12.10 to 12.15.2018 Automaker Ford projects growth of up to 12% in 2019 André Barros | andrebarros@autodata.com.br S ão Paulo – The Brazilian vehicle market will maintain its increasing trajectory in 2019, although at a less accentuated pace. According to projections released by Rogelio Golfarb, vice president of government relations at Ford, on Thursday, 13, the market will advance from 10% to 12% next year, from 2 million 830 thousand to 2.9 million units. This year, the sales will reach an increase of 15% to 16%, at the range of 2.6 million units. The bad news comes from Argentina: After a retreat of 10% to 12% this year Ford believes in a decline from 20% to 25% next year, 590 thousand to 640 thousand units sold: “The retraction of the Argentine market will affect the Brazilian production. Argentina will not begin its recovery next year.” Golfarb did not reveal production estimates, but stressed that the automotive sector is the big driver of the Brazilian industrial production growth – which this year will close with an increase of 1.8% over 2017: “The automotive production advances at the range of 15.8% in 2018. It is responsible for 70% of the industry’s growth, in total”. Similarly, the Brazilian market sales regarding light vehicles are pulled by the fleet segment: while retail advanced 9.7% in the yearly accumulated compared to the same period of 2017, direct sales grew 24.3%, exceeding the number of 1 million units. “63% of the market growth came from direct sales. The question of credit will be the predominant point for greater or lesser participation in retail sales in 2019.” During its traditional year-end meeting with journalists in São Paulo, Ford also released some of the novelties that it intends to launch in the market next year. The first, already announced at the Salão do Automóvel de São Paulo, is the Ford Edge ST version. The other was also at the company’s stand at the event: the Ranger Storm pickup truck concept had its production confirmed and comes at the end of 2019, according to the president Lyle Watters.