![]() ![]() Despite the company's lobbying with businessmen and politicians, few orders are placed and the results are poor. Despite the bus body market going through a crisis at that time, Santa Matilde invested in order to fulfill orders from the Companhia de Transporte Coletivos of the state of Rio de Janeiro (CTC) and bus businessmen in the same state. With the experience acquired in the design of the two prototypes, Santa Matilde started a broader project to build bus bodies, aiming to diversify its product line. Despite sales expectations, mechanical problems and the price of CNG prevented the adoption of the model and frustrated the company, which had its prototypes returned. The vehicle was tested in the city of Natal between June 1984 and July 1985. ![]() Santa Matilde joined the program in 1984 and developed a standard model urban bus mounted on a Chevrolet chassis and engine, with a bi-fuel alcohol and CNG system. The Empresa Brasileira de Transportes Urbanos (EBTU) launched a financing program to encourage the development of urban buses with alternative fuels. As a result, the financial situation of the company worsened, contributing to its bankruptcy. Despite the investments, the Santa Matilde car sold few units, due to its high cost (being the most expensive car in Brazil, costing the equivalent of two Chevrolet Opala) and made the company put aside its main product (railway equipment ). Car production forced the company to invest in skilled labor and equipment. Between 19 Santa Matilde produced more than 900 sports cars based on Chevrolet engines. ![]()
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