Escorts Ltd today rolled out a new range of tractors, including models suitable for puddling in paddy cultivation and commercial haulage applications.

The company introduced the Powertrac Diesel Silver Plus tractor series in the South, assuring about 10 per cent savings in fuel usage with improved performance.

Improved power

S. Sridhar, Chief Executive Officer of Escorts Agri Machinery, said the new range developed by the research and development teams, stand for improved power and lower fuel consumption. These tractors offer about 10-15 per cent saving on diesel alone.

“Having extensively tested tractors for puddling operations in paddy fields in South, we are now launching them. Tractors normally need to use Cage Iron Wheels for usage in paddy fields. But these new tractors, even though heavy, feature four-wheel drive and thereby help the farming community,” he explained.

The new tractors come in 37 hp, 41 hp and 45 hp categories and are priced at Rs 4.9-5.8 lakh.

Shenu Agarwal, Head, Marketing, said tractors are now seen as income generators with their versatile nature, where farmers and owners use it not only for their own operations, but lend them and make money. The savings and improved efficiency add to their income generation capability.

Manufacturing capacity

With a manufacturing capacity of 1,00,000 tractors, Escorts is looking at increasing its market share from 12 per cent with the launch of new models. The company, which logged a turnover of Rs 3,000 crore last year in a market of Rs 25,000 crore, sold 63,000 units.

The market for tractors is sluggish but is expected to get better.

Escorts is seeking to up the market share with new range, they said.

>rishikumar.vundi@thehindu.co.in

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