Turnover for the Same Deutz-Fahr Group in 2019 reached €1.268 billion, down 7.6% on the previous year. But despite the decline, the company is still in a positive mood.
“Last year was particularly significant for our company, both because of the good earnings performance and the completion of the reorganisation of the sales division, alongside our work on digital transformation projects,” says Lodovico Bussolati, CEO of SDF. “We will continue to make major investments in research and development, and in 2020 we will be launching some important innovations for high-power tractors, combining product performance and connectivity.”
Explaining the 2019 figures, the group points out the European tractor market contracted last year and export sales of combines and tractors also weakened. On a more positive note the firms Grégoire grape harvester division had a record turnover, increasing from €54.9m to €70.7m.
Investment in an online parts sales platform also bolstered spare part sales.
Over €60m was spent last year on product development with a key focus on digitalisation of products and sales processes. A chunk of the spend was accounted for by the ‘connected tractor’ project using telemetry for remote observation and servicing.
Currently Covid-19 has made its presence felt with SDF’s various factories, but the group points out measures were put in place at the time to ensure production could continue as lockdown restrictions were lifted.
