AFRICA NEWS
Good news for utility tractor market
Escorts Group is one of India’s largest
agricultural, construction and railway
equipment companies, producing 21 to 80
horsepower tractors, engines and gensets.
Kubota will own 60% of the joint venture
(JV), which has an initial capacity of
50 000 units. The JV enables both partners
to optimise their current and future
capabilities in the segment globally.
The JV aims to take a leading
position in the domestic Indian market,
as well as in the export markets in the
medium-to-long term. Masatoshi Kimata,
president and representative director of
In a multi-faceted joint venture, Japan’s
leading tractor manufacturer, Kubota, will
jointly develop and manufacture utility
tractors with Escorts of India. The two
companies will both sell the range in India,
while Kubota will export to selected export
markets globally including South Africa.
At Nampo 2019 – held from 14 to 17
May at Bothaville in the Free State – local
farmers were glad to know that Smith
Power will soon add to its range of Kubota
excavators a new utility tractor brand to
be jointly developed and manufactured by
Kubota and Escorts of India.
From left are head of IB at Escorts, Rajiv Wahi; and Royal Reesink MD, Arjan Mulder.
Kubota Corp describes Escorts Group’s
farming equipment division as a strong
technology legacy and diversified portfolio
in agricultural tractors and equipment.
“We are excited to announce our
partnership with Escorts Group which has
a strong technology legacy and diversified
portfolio in agriculture equipment
solutions market, while Kubota boasts
proven global technology prowess.
Together we will cater for India and other
growing global economies which require
high-end technology and new age tractors
for the growing demand for highly-
mechanised farming,” says Kimata.
Nikil Nanda, chairman and MD of
Escorts, says the company is evolving
to become a global organisation through
strategic technology and manufacturing
collaborations. “Our global JV with Kubota
is aimed at technology-led collaborative
growth in our domestic and export
markets. Together with our inherent
strengths, distribution and engineering
benchmarks, we will access global
opportunity markets and move towards
global leadership in utility tractors,” says
Nanda.
Although many of Escorts’ tractors are
very simple, more advanced solutions are
being developed, such as the all-electric
compact tractor unveiled just over a year
ago. A concept autonomous tractor was
also introduced in September last year.
Products from the new JV will
capitalise on Kubota platforms and
technology. Kubota, through its expanded
distribution network, will be responsible
for exports to specific markets. In South
Africa, Smith Power has been distributing
Kubota tractors for many years, and the
new range will ride on the existing Smith
Power footprint and customer base to
break into the market.
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AUGUST 2019
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