M&M’s all-new lightweight global tractor platform will have four sub-tractor platforms – sub- compact, compact, small utility and large utility – covering 40 models across multiple horsepower points and targeting both domestic and global markets including USA, Japan and South-East Asia.
29 May 2023 | 20672 Views | By Ajit Dalvi
August 15, when India celebrates its Independence Day, is also when Mahindra & Mahindra makes key announcements or launches of new products. August 15, 2022 saw the global reveal of its five upcoming born-electric SUVs as well as the cutting-edge EV design studio in the UK – Mahindra Advanced Design ...
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August 15, when India celebrates its Independence Day, is also when Mahindra & Mahindra makes key announcements or launches of new products. August 15, 2022 saw the global reveal of its five upcoming born-electric SUVs as well as the cutting-edge EV design studio in the UK – Mahindra Advanced Design Europe. August 14, 2021 had the global debut of its flagship XUV700 and on August 15, 2020, the second-generation Mahindra Thar was revealed. August 15, 2023 will see M&M’s tractor manufacturing division take the covers off Mahindra Oja, which the company calls as the “most technologically advanced global tractor platform.”
On April 6, 2023, Mahindra Tractors, part of the Farm Equipment Sector at M&M, had revealed the name of its all-new lightweight global tractor platform (codenamed K2), as ‘Oja’ which is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Ojas’ which symbolises vitality, energy and strength.
4 sub-platforms, 40 models, 4 key markets
Mahindra Oja is easily M&M’s most ambitious tractor program involving 4 platforms, 40 models and 4 key markets – India, the US, South East Asia and Japan. The Mahindra Oja tractor platform will spawn all of 40 models, developed on four sub-platforms, understood to be ranging from 20hp through to 70hp, and will roll out over the next three fiscals, starting this year. Each Mahindra Oja tractor will have, as per the company “best first-in-class technology features.”
The four sub-tractor platforms comprise the Sub-Compact, Compact, Small Utility and Large Utility tractor categories, covering 40 models across various multiple horsepower points. The Sub-Compact platform is expected to develop tractors in the 20-25hp range, Compact (21-30hp), Small Utility (26-40hp) and Large Utility (45-70hp). The K2 new tractor range programme, first outlined in March 2021, with a 37-model range, has been expanded to 40 models with three additional models.
Future-ready farming platform
Clearly, the future-ready Mahindra Oja range, targeted at both Indian and key global markets, is designed to enable the company to broaden its global farming footprint and in turn achieve much higher sales volumes.
The Mahindra Oja 40-strong tractor range, whose primary markets are India, the US, South East Asia and Japan, has been developed through close cooperation between the engineering teams of Mitsubishi Mahindra Agriculture Machinery, Japan, and Mahindra Research Valley in Chennai, which is the R&D centre for Mahindra’s Auto & Farm sector.
Mahindra Oja tractors will be manufactured exclusively at the company’s modern Zaheerabad tractor plant, which is among the largest in South-Asia and also ranks as the company’s youngest tractor manufacturing plants. A vertically integrated tractor facility, this facility also rolls out Mahindra’s next-generation range of Yuvo and Jivo tractors, including the recently launched Plus Series of tractors.
Currently, Mahindra is the sole tractor manufacturer in Telangana, having invested close to Rs 1,087 crore in Zaheerabad. The farm equipment sector employs over 1,500 workers, with a capacity of over 100,000 tractors per annum on a two-shift basis.
The technologically advanced plant has with the manufacturing flexibility to roll out over 330 different tractor variants ranging from 30 to 100 hp. The plant, also produces rice transplanters and tractor-mounted combine harvesters, has adopted the TPM (Total Productive Maintenance) philosophy since inception, with around 65% of its tractor production being exported globally.
Mahindra Tractors farms strong growth in FY2023
In FY2023, Mahindra Tractors farmed strong growth and achieved record sales of 407,545 tractors, up 15% (FY2022: 354,698 units). This comprised 389,531 units in the domestic market, up 16%, and 18,014 export units, up 2%. As per the company, Mahindra FES has a commanding 41.2% market share and as per its new ‘Strategy Refresh’ future growth programme.
M&M, which announced its Q4 and FY2023 results on May 26, reported total consolidated revenues of Rs 121,269 crore, a 34% increase over FY2022’s Rs 90,171 crore, and profit after tax of Rs 10,282 crore, up 56% (FY2022: Rs 6,577 crore).
M&M’s FES reported consolidated revenues of Rs 32,028 crore, up 18% (FY2022: Rs 27,060 crore) and profit after tax of Rs 4,212 crore, up 8% (FY2022: Rs 3,891 crore).
Clearly, M&M, which is the world's largest tractor manufacturer, will be looking to accelerate growth with the all-new, future-ready Mahindra Oja lightweight tractor platform. But there's some additional tractor news from the company – before the global unveil of the Mahindra Oja on August 15 this year, June 2 will see M&M FES launch the new Swaraj lightweight tractor platform in 25hp and 29hp versions, targeting a new segment of specialist spraying and inter-culture. Stay tuned in for more exciting news on the farming front.
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