Deere opens tractor factory in Dewas, India

John Deere officials today inaugurated the company's second tractor factory in India to build agricultural tractors to meet the requirements of the small land holding customers in India and for export to other nearby markets. The new facility is located in Dewas, which is northeast of Indore, the largest city in the state of Madhya Pradesh.

"There is a growing demand from customers in India for John Deere products," said Samuel R. Allen, chairman and chief executive officer of Deere & Company. "Deere's investment in this new factory is a direct result of that loyalty shown to Deere in India. John Deere is committed to helping customers in India and around the world increase their productivity and prosper."

Deere announced the $80 million investment to build the new factory in Dewas in 2011 and broke ground on the project in early 2012. Eventually the site could provide approximately 1,000 jobs and offer the chance for other companies to become suppliers to Deere.

"This is an ideal location for our second tractor manufacturing facility in India because of its proximity to our farm equipment customers," said Mark von Pentz, president of Deere's Worldwide Agriculture & Turf Division. "In addition, because of the cooperation of government leadership, Madhya Pradesh is a friendly state in which to do business."

Von Pentz said John Deere has seen an increased mechanization of farming in India over the past several years. He said the new factory is well placed to allow farmers in this key region to utilize technological expertise to improve yields.

Dr. Bernhard Haas, the senior vice president for the John Deere tractor platform worldwide, said, "Utility tractors such as these we will manufacture at this new factory are a great example of Deere's focus on deep customer understanding and delivering customer value. We are systematic and diligent in designing products to meet the needs of our customers, who are among the most productive farmers in the world."

Satish Nadiger, managing director of John Deere India, said, "Deere's success around the world has been earned because of our focus on the customer and on meeting the needs of many different markets. In India, we are committed to helping enterprising farmers move from subsistence levels to become business entrepreneurs."

Deere has a long history with the Indian agricultural market, including sales of equipment in India approximately 60 years ago. John Deere created a joint venture in 1997 in India and fully acquired the joint venture in 2005. Since then, Deere has added manufacturing locations, a non-banking finance company to exclusively support John Deere's dealers and customers, and a technology and engineering center in Pune in 2005. Deere is also involved in a joint venture with Ashok-Leyl and to build construction machinery.