Dana Holding Corporation announces that the company this month will commemorate 65 years of serving customers in Brazil. Starting from a small workshop in Rio Grande do Sul, Dana's roots in the country have grown to eight major facilities in Diadema, Gravatai, and Sorocaba that employ 2,400.
In 2011, Dana strengthened its commitment to Brazil and the region overall through a strategic agreement that added truck and bus steer axles to its product offering. This transaction effectively positioned Dana as the leading full-line supplier of commercial-vehicle drivelines in South America.
"Our dedication to the region dates back to the launch of large-scale automotive production in Brazil," says Roger Wood, Dana's president and chief executive officer. "We took a bold step last year to further strengthen our capabilities to serve our diverse customer base here, and we look forward to supporting the region's light-vehicle, commercial-vehicle and off-highway industries as they further position Brazil as a global economic power."
Sales from South America accounted for 16% of Dana's overall revenues in 2011. (This breakdown by region includes 100% of sales of Dongfeng Dana Axle Co., Ltd., Dana's joint venture in China, for the full fiscal year.) Operations in the region overall include two engineering centers; several manufacturing and assembly plants in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay, and Venezuela; and seven aftermarket distribution centers. Dana's key customers in South America include Agrale, Daimler, Ford, MAN, Scania, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo.
