SAME DEUTZ-FAHR (SDF) India registered a 27 per cent increase in sales turnover of tractors in the domestic market during 2009. While sales have dropped in most countries including Russia, U.S., Europe and South America during the year due to sharp decline in demand for automobiles and commercial vehicles on account of economic crisis, India and China alone registered an increase in sales, India registering a 16 per cent increase and China 38 per cent increase in sales, according to Francesco Carozza, Chairman of SDF India.
Addressing a press conference in Ranipet last week-end, Mr. Francesco Carozza said that the company has expanded its production capacity to meet the additional market requirements. The engine assembly line now produces even Euro 3 emission compliant engines for exports.
In order to further boost the tractor and engine production, land measuring 52,000 sq.m. has been recently purchased adjacent to its existing plant in Ranipet.
Andrea Bedosti, Executive Vice-President, Sales, Marketing and After Sales, SDF said the company would be signing agreements with financial institutions and nationalised banks to arrange for retail finance to customers. The Ranipet plant will function as a Centre of Excellence for the SDF group. SDF will be establishing a research & development Centre in the newly acquired land in Ranipet. It will also be a global testing centre for tractors manufactured by the group. Mr. Bedosti said “While our target is to penetrate the high-end tractor segment, especially the 80 HP tractors, we do not intend to forget the low-end segment. We are also going to develop the 35-40 HP brand tractors”, he said.
SDF also launched its new brand, Agrolux Profiline, featuring 15x15 synchronised shuttle, front brakes and top speed of 40 Km/h, and the 2-cylinder 35-HP SAME brand tractor on the occasion.
