Feb. 24, 2016, © Leeham Co., Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil: Embraer will roll out its new E-Jet E2 tomorrow with the first model, the E190E2.

Paulo Cesar, president of Embraer, outlined a short history of the program in the opening of two days of events.

Sixteen years ago we launched the E-Jet program and 12 years ago we rolled out the jet. Since then, the E-Jet has changed the way people fly.

Since then we have delivered more than 1,200 jets. It’s one of the most successful commercial jet programs.

Four years ago, oil prices were very high. There was a new generation of engines. The CSeries was launched and the other two major manufacturers launched their programs. We decided to reinvent our product. We decided three years ago that there was nothing wrong with the E-Jet, but we decided to be more efficient. We changed the wing, the landing gear, to lower the maintenance costs and to be more fuel efficient, between 16 and 20 percent depending on the model.

We are on time. The first delivery is the first half of 2018. The first flight is the second half of 2016, and we will try to do that as soon as possible in the second half.

Next year we do the 195. One year after that, we will do the smaller one, the 175.

Following his remarks, Cesar expressed concern of the growing government involvement in funding competitor Bombardier, but was unsure if the investments were compliant with rules under the World Trade Organization.

Cesar dismissed concern about the low price of oil and its effect on long-term requirements for aircraft orders. Airlines order airplanes beyond the two or three years of low oil prices, he said.