Zetor has entered into an agreement with Indian manufacturer VST Tillers Tractors to jointly develop a new range of tractors.
Made at VST’s new ‘high-horsepower’ facility in India, while primarily designed for the home market, both Zetor and VST will also seek ways to export the tractors to other Asian and African countries.
VST claims a leading 45% share of the compact tractor market (up to 30hp), and although the full details are not yet available, we understand that the joint venture with Zetor is for tractors in excess of 36hp.
India is one of the world’s largest tractor markets with 688,000 units sold in 2018. From the 1960s to 1980s, Zetor exported tens of thousands of tractors to India, and its tractors were subsequently manufactured under the license by HMT. Zetor India, a subsidiary designed to strengthen the brand’s position in the country, was established in 2014.
“Zetor was looking for a strong local partner with a good knowledge of the Indian market,” said chairman of the board of directors Martin Blaškovič of Zetor Tractors. “We expect this cooperation with VST will strengthen Zetor’s position on the Indian market.”
Established in 1967 by the VST Group, VST tractors are made at Hosur, not far from the city of Bangalore in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Sold through a 250-strong Indian dealer network, the company also makes rice transplanters and claims to be the largest manufacturer of powered tillers in India. VST also exports its products to Africa, Russia, and Myanmar.
