“In recent years, we have made important sales of New G7 models to companies in the region. To continue our growth and offer the most advanced models available, we are launching the G8 to expand our participation in the intercity segment“, José Luis Moraes Goes analyzes, director of International Operations and Commercial Foreign Market at Marcopolo.
The African region is the second largest market for Marcopolo, surpassed only by Latin America. In 2023, the company’s market share in South Africa was 48%, a considerable increase compared to 2020, when the market share represented 24%. Last year, Marcopolo South Africa (MASA) invoiced 362 units and, for 2024, the forecast is for more than 400 vehicles.
“We are always looking for ways to expand our business. We carried out several studies to identify possible new areas of activity, always focused on offering mobility solutions that provide benefits to users and operators”, says Goes.
G8 details and launch event
The first Generation 8 model that arrives in the African market is the Paradiso 1350, exclusively imported from Brazil, and is 15 meters long, with a capacity of 60 seats in semi-sleeper seats. The steering wheel is positioned to the right side of the vehicle, for driving on left-hand traffic roads, and it also has air conditioning system, with heating, a toilet, USB-C chargers, a coffee maker and full LED headlights, as well as meeting ECE R66.02 /SABS standards.
Marcopolo has had ECE R66.02 certification since 2018, granted by the British VCA (Vehicle Certification Agency) and valid in more than 30 countries, to certify its buses through its own product development process. The international standard ECE R66.02 guarantees greater safety for buses and determines that the structure of the vehicles must be more resistant to roll-overs.
To mark the arrival of the G8 in the country, Marcopolo held a launch event on July 17, which was attended by companies from South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, among other countries that already have vehicles of the brand.
