VW Brazil to build big rear-engine bus

Volkswagen do Brasil is no stranger to building rear-engined vehicles, with a bay-window' T2 Transporter bus and panel vans rolling off the lines every day. However, the company's truck and bus division plan to build big by launching a new generation of city buses in order to maintain its growth in this market that is currently led by Mercedes-Benz.

The distinction of the VW bus is the rear-mounted engine, for urban use, with less internal noise. Roberto Cortes, director for South America of Volkswagen Trucks and Buses, bets that the model will dominate the domestic scenario within five years.

The company's plant at Resende, in Rio de Janeiro state, is the only one where VW is producing the bus and VW's goal for this sector is to grow 15 per cent in Brazil in 2001.

Gazeta Mercantil (Brazil) - May 5, 2001

thanks to Pete Frost