 | |
 Mafersa trolleybus that belonged to CMTC, former transportation authority ofSão Paulo, Brazil | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | 1927; 98 years ago (1927) |
| Fate | Acquired |
| Successor | Alstom |
| Headquarters | São Paulo, Brazil |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Locomotives High-speed trains Intercity and commuter trains Trams People movers Signalling systems Trolleybus Buses |
| Owner | Budd Company (1927-1997) Alstom (1997-Present) |
Mafersa S.A. is a Brazilian manufacturer of passenger rail cars, buses andtrolleybuses, and related components. It was founded in 1944 and was located in the city ofSão Paulo.[1] At the end of 1997 it became a subsidiary ofAlstom.[2]
Most of its customers were in Brazil. However, export orders included, in 1990–92, 38 stainless-steelpush-pullcommuter rail cars for theVirginia Railway Express[3] (10control cars [cab-equipped trailers] and 28 trailers)[4] and 256metro-car bodyshells for theChicago Transit Authority (as a subcontractor toMorrison-Knudsen).[3] In the mid-1980s the company built more than 270metro cars forRio de Janeiro and more than 400 forSão Paulo, and these were built under license from theBudd Company.[5]
In addition to building new rail vehicles, Mafersa also carried out overhauls of existing rail cars.[1]
In 1997, Mafersa was acquired by Alstom. A subsidiary of Alstom keeping the same name, Mafersa SA, continued producing rail vehicle components (such as wheels andaxles), while manufacturing of rail cars also continued but now under the name, "Alstom Transporte do Brazil S.A."[6] Alstom sold the technology and license of Mafersa SA to MWL Brasil Rodas & Eixos Ltda. in November 1999, and this company continued making rail-vehicle components, initially under the Mafersa name.[7]
Mafersa entered the field of bus manufacturing in 1985, with development of a bus chassis and amonocoque (or integral) trolleybus.[8] Production oftrolleybuses lasted only from 1986 until 1988 and was relatively small, totalling only 85 vehicles, of which 84 were two-axle vehicles and one wasarticulated.[9] Between the start of production in 1985/86 and 1988 more than 600 diesel buses had been delivered to various cities.[8]
