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Troller Veículos Especiais

Troller Veículos Especiais S/A (Troller) was a Brazilian off-road vehicle manufacturer. Founded in 1995 in Horizonte, Ceará, it became a subsidiary of Ford in 2007.[2] The Troller T4 was a flagship vehicle, which had featured successfully in several rally races around the world, including the Dakar Rally.

Etymology

The name Troller is a Brazilian adaptation of the English word Troll, which refers to a character of the Scandinavian legends that dwells forests and caves of Norway.[3]

History

Troller started in 1995, by Rogério Farias. In April 1996, the first prototype was built.[4]

In 1997, the company was bought by the entrepreneur Mário Araripe, who formed a partnership with Rogério Farias; the first gasoline-powered T4 was built.[4][5] The mass-production of the vehicle started in 1999, when a factory was built in the municipality of Horizonte.[4]

In 2005, a manufacturing plant opened in Angola to build the T4 for the African market.[6] In January 2007, Ford do Brasil announced Troller's acquisition for .[2][8]

On 14 December 2009, a Troller made the news when it cleared São Paulo's flooded streets during a news broadcast, at the time, the company played along and tried to find the driver.[9] The T4 received a redesign in 2014.

The Troller plant in Horizonte was closed by the end of 2021, with Ford ending all its production in Brazil.[10][11] The brand and the Technology was not put for sale, just the industrial complex which comprises a land of 120142 m2 with 21736 km2 of floor area. The special tax regime, valid until 2025, would also be linked to the factory.[8]

The state owned company expropriated the 129,000 m² of land that was for sale and seems to re-assemble electric hybrid vehicles, six models from three brands, starting in 2025. The investment of R$ 400 million would be for the first phase 255 direct employees. The Plant where the assembly is planned in Horizonte was ceded by Adece to Comexport under a loan-for-use arrangement, where 3 years ago was ex Troller of ex Ford, meaning the forests behind with a total land of 550 000 m² is to be devasted near the water supply.[12]

The Chevrolet Spark EUV is being assembled since 3 December 2025 in this plant.[13][14]

Models

  • Troller Pantanal (2006–2008)
  • Troller T4 3.2 Turbodiesel (2015–2021)

See also

  • TAC Stark - another Brazilian four-wheel drive vehicle.

External links

References

  1. Rogerio Farias^
  2. Ford to boost Brazilian operation BBC, 2007-01-04, retrieved 2007-01-06^
  3. SOBRE A TROLLER Troller, retrieved February 8, 2022^
  4. Troller Inova UNICAMP, retrieved 2008-07-14^
  5. História Troller, retrieved 2008-07-14^
  6. Troller vai exportar tecnologia Carro e Cia, 2004-10-28, retrieved 2008-07-14^
  7. Fora de linha, últimos Troller T4 são vendidos por até R$ 280.000 11 October 2021^
  8. Fora de linha, últimos Troller T4 são vendidos por até R$ 280.000 Quatro Rodas, 2021-10-11, retrieved 2022-02-09^
  9. Este Troller é seu? December 22, 2009, retrieved February 8, 2022^
  10. Ford Advances South America Restructuring ceased Manufacturing In Brazil, Serve Customers With New Lineup Ford Media Center, 2021-01-11, retrieved 2021-01-11^
  11. Ford finished Production in Brazil Financial Times, 12 January 2021^
  12. Montadora no Ceará: 40 mil carros ao ano e geração de 9 mil empregos OPovo, 9 August 2024^
  13. GMB Chevrolet monta carro elétrico no Brasil na antiga fábrica 3 December 2025^
  14. GMB fabrica mais de 23 mil unidades no Ceará com segundo modelo de carro 3 December 2025^