Italian tractor manufacturer Same Deutz Fahr (SDF) has made a foray into the 35-42 HP mass market segment in India with the launch of the first product in this category. The new 3E series tractor has been tailor made especially for India, and will be manufactured at SDF India?s facility at Ranipet in Tamil Nadu. This is the third SDF product in the Indian market.

Francesco Carozza, Vice Chairman, SDF said that the new product will enable the company to compete in a segment in which it earlier had no presence. With over 600,000 units sold, India was the top market for tractors globally in 2013, and the 32-45 HP range accounted for nearly 35 per cent of the total market. As of today, SDF sells its products in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh and plans to invest to strengthen the dealer network. During 2014, SDF India expects to produce and sell nearly 10,000 tractors, of which around 75 per cent will be in overseas markets.

This year, it also will make over 27,000 engines at Ranipet, which following the relocation from Europe, is now the only engine plant worldwide for SDF.