Though senior company officials declined to divulge details on the new product range, it is expected to hit the market simultaneously with the launch of three to four more `Arjun' series hi-tech tractors. Mr Ravi Santhanam, executive vice-president of farm equipment sector of M&M, claims the yet-to-be named series would also help the company improve its exportperformance.

According to Mr Santhanam, the demand for hi-tech tractors from second generation tractor users made M&M develop the new series.

M&M recently launched the first tractor in the Arjun series. Arjun has a 60 HP engine developed with the latest technology from AVL of Austria. "Arjun was developed keeping in mind the Indian soil conditions and the expectations of the Indian farmers," Mr Santhanam said.

M&M improved its domestic marketshare from 27.80 per cent last year to over 36 per cent following the launch of Bhumiputra range of tractors last year.

In fact, it is the only tractor major which witnessed a positive growth in sales (eight per cent) for the period till August in the current fiscal.

Bhumiputra tractors have 40 HP engines while Sarpanch sports 45 & 50HP engines.

However, company officials have ruled out phase-out of any old models following the launch of new generation series. M&M has eight tractor models including the one launched under the Arjun banner.

Mr Santhanam hopes to improve exports -from Rs 50 crore at present-following the launches. "We will focus on the European markets after consolidating our position in the US," he added.

Indian tractors see a slide in sales
The Indian tractor industry has recorded a slide of 13.70 per cent in sales for the April-August 2000-01 period. Total tractor sales for the five-month period of the current fiscal stoodat 89.670 units against 1,03,909 units sold during the corresponding period in the previous fiscal. M&M is the only tractor major which clocked a positive growth of eight per cent during the period selling 32,548 units against 30,126 units during the April-August 1999-2000 period.However, during August in the current year, Eicher, Escorts and Swaraj clocked positive sales along with M&M. TAFE's sales are still considerably down. lĪn The Indian tractor industry has recorded a slide of 13.70 per cent in sales for the April-August 2000-01 period. Total tractor sales for the five-month period of the current fiscal stoodat 89.670 units against 1,03,909 units sold during the corresponding period in the previous fiscal. M&M is the only tractor major which clocked a positive growth of eight per cent during the period selling 32,548 units against 30,126 units during the April-August 1999-2000 period.

However, during August in the current year, Eicher, Escorts and Swaraj clocked positive sales along with M&M. TAFE's sales are still considerably down.