The U20-C locomotive was chosen by FRATESCHI due to its growing popularity on Brazilian railways over the last ten years.

Just as General Motors' G-12 was considered in 1956 as the ideal choice for railroads in developing countries due to its favorable cost-performance ratio, the U20-C has become one of these general purpose locomotives , used in gauges ranging from 1.00m to 1.67m, both for passenger and cargo service, but not recommended for maneuvers in yards.

The majority of these locomotives were manufactured at the Brazilian unit of General Electric, in Campinas (SP), and supplied to Brazilian railways, or exported to Mozambique, Jordan, Angola, Bolivia, etc.. The U20-C locomotives manufactured in the USA were also exported to Colombia, Angola. Mozambique, Rhodesia, Pakistan, etc.