Mafersa
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail vehicle manufacturing, Bus manufacturing |
| Founded | 1944 |
| Headquarters | São Paulo , Brazil |
| Products | Passenger rail cars, buses, trolleybuses, rail vehicle components |
| Parent | Alstom (since 1997) |
Mafersa S.A. is a São Paulo-based Brazilian company established in 1944, specializing in the production of passenger rail cars, buses, trolleybuses, and associated components. In late 1997, it was incorporated as a subsidiary of Alstom.
Although its main market has been Brazil, Mafersa also completed export agreements. Notably, between 1990 and 1992, the company supplied 38 stainless-steel push-pull commuter rail cars for the Virginia Railway Express—comprising 10 control cars and 28 trailers—and manufactured 256 metro car bodyshells for the Chicago Transit Authority while subcontracted by Morrison-Knudsen. During the mid-1980s, Mafersa produced more than 270 metro cars for the Rio de Janeiro Metro and upwards of 400 for the São Paulo Metro, operating under a license from the Budd Company.
In addition to building new vehicles, Mafersa was recognized for its expertise in refurbishing existing rail cars.
Following its acquisition by Alstom in 1997, Mafersa maintained production of rail vehicle components such as wheels and axles under the Alstom umbrella but kept its original name. The manufacturing of rail cars continued under the designation "Alstom Transporte do Brazil S.A." In November 1999, Alstom transferred Mafersa's technology and licensing rights to MWL Brasil Rodas & Eixos Ltda., which carried on manufacturing rail-vehicle parts initially branded as Mafersa.
Buses
The company entered the bus manufacturing sector in 1985 with the development of a bus chassis and a monocoque trolleybus model. Between 1986 and 1988, trolleybus production was limited to a total of 85 units—84 with two axles and one articulated vehicle. By 1988, Mafersa had delivered more than 600 diesel-powered buses to various urban centers.