TAFE unveils new generation 44 hp tractor

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, NOV. 23. To take competition head on, unlisted Tractors and Farm Equipment Ltd. (TAFE) of the Amalgamation group has unveiled a slick new generation 44 hp vehicle fitted with the new superior Simpson SJ 325 engine designed by AVL of Austria.

Christened Samrat 4410, the tractor will have the sophisticated urban appeal. Yet, it will be sturdy and rugged.

Touted as the tractor for the 21st century, the Samrat is expected to be unleashed in the Indian market during the first quarter of next year.

According to Ms. Mallika Srinivasan, Director of the company, Samrat will be positioned in the 31-50 hp segment which comprises nearly 70 per cent of the tractor market. Ms. Mallika hinted that TAFE would return to the market within 6-8 months of the launch of Samrat 4410 to introduce a couple of more models on the same platform.

Mr. A. Sivasailam, Chairman of the company, said it had cost the company Rs. 70 crores to design the prototype Samrat. The Chairman hoped that it would be an ikon in the industry, helping TAFE to emerge the victor in a market place which had been witnessing a slump in demand despite good rainfall and improved crop prospects.

TAFE, it was explained, would offer Samrat 4410 with varied additional features. The provision for a cabin version of Samrat 4410 with air-condition facility inside, car-like ambience and easy access to control points from the driver seat, it was argued, would all go down well with prospective customers.

Since Samrat was benchmarked to global standards, Mr. Sivasailam exuded optimism that it would ``power its way to the U.S. and Europe, competing with the best in the world".

Mr. Sivasailam said TAFE had enough flexibility at its Madurai plant to fine-tune the production capacity of Samrat in line with the emerging demand. He said TAFE held on to last year's sales volume in a declining market scenario. It sold around 31,145 vehicles as against a production of 29,455 units last year.

TAFE, Ms. Mallika said had a market share of 15 per cent in the over all tractor industry. In the 31-50 hp segment, however, TAFE had a share of 30 per cent. She was confident that the Samrat would fetch TAFE more market share in the segment.

Both Mr. Sivasailam and Ms. Mallika underscored the need to re- visit the lending norms and policies formulated a long while ago. A host of changes had taken place in the meantime, they pointed out. They advocated a flexible fund assistance programme in the wake of emerging trends, made worse by the demand slump.

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