This week has seen a noteworthy new business deal bringing together the Brazilian and Swedish governments and a major international company under a unique convergence of circumstances.
Brazil’s Ministry of Science and Technology, the Swedish Government and Volvo Buses have agreed to jointly invest in a new project to adapt hybrid motor technology currently used in Europe to the Brazilian market, with a key outcome to be the creation of a fleet of environmentally friendly buses for Brazil’s upcoming major events. The R$40 million initiative will comprise R$10 million each from the two governments and R$20 million from Volvo.
The agreement was formally announced by Science and Technology minister Aloizio Mercadante, the president of Volvo Bus Latin America, Luis Carlos Pimenta and Brazilian senator Acir Gurgacz. The latter, who has strong experience in the transport sector, developed and promoted the idea after hearing of Volvo’s program to develop environmentally sustainable technologies.