Mafersa

Founded in January 1944, Mafersa S.A. was for decades the largest Brazilian railway/bus manufacturer, having supplied most of the fleet of trains for the Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo subways and Trolleybuses for METRA System. With industrial units in São Paulo, Caçapava (SP) and Contagem (MG), the company produced all types of railway wagons, in addition to casting, forging and machining wheels and axles for its own and third parties' use. Originally a privately held company, in February 1964 Mafersa was transferred to BNDES in reimbursement of outstanding debts with the Federal Government and that federal bank.