Zetor and VST Tillers Tractors Ltd. introduced new tractors for the local Indian market, during the recently held AgroTech India exhibition in Chandigarh, Punjab. The alliance between Zetor and the traditional Indian tractor manufacturer follows the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation in 2020.
Among the distinguished guests who attended the launch ceremony, besides representatives of both firms, were the Vice President of the Republic of India Mr. Jagdeep Dhankhar, and the Ambassador of the Czech Republic in India, Mrs. Eliška Žigová.
The new 45 and 50 HP models will be sold on the Indian market under the VST Zetor brand. These machines were designed specifically for the needs of local farmers and are equipped with an in-house made engine. Simple handling and a short turning radius enable the new tractors to perform a wide range of tasks even in difficult working conditions.
“The development of the tractor did not take place in a very easy time. The global pandemic of Covid-19 and the various restrictions, limitations, and disruptions to the global market that this brought were major challenges for all of us. However, thanks to the professional approach of our partners at VST, we managed to overcome these obstacles and create a machine that has all the prerequisites to become a success. In recent weeks, the prototypes have successfully passed the final testing phase at our production and development center in the Czech Republic and we expect the first tractors to be delivered to customers next year,” said Róbert Harman, Managing Director of Zetor Tractors, who unveiled the two new products together with Antony Cherukara, Managing Director of VST Tillers Tractors Ltd.
VST was founded in 1967, but its history dates back to 1911. As a pioneer in the field of power tillers, the company nowadays keeps the position of its largest manufacturer in India. In addition, VST also manufactures tractors and other agricultural implements. The company operates globally in more than 20 countries in Asia, Europe, and Africa.
“Since the beginning of our existence, the goal is to bring innovative and quality products to our customers. The collaboration with Zetor has enabled us to bring out products that offer greater productivity, comfort, and simplicity to meet the demands of new-age farmers. The Zetor VST is designed to provide the best possible performance for the best possible working results for the farmers. Apart from the 45 and 50 HP tractors, VST Zetor will introduce many more products in the near future,” added Antony Cherukara.
Zetor’s presence in South Asia has a long tradition dating back to the 1960s when thousands of Czech tractors began to be exported to India. This was followed by several partnerships with local manufacturers in the form of licensing agreements or joint ventures. Just between 1970 and 1990 alone, over 60,000 tractors left the gates of Indian factories this way. Since 2014, Zetor has been represented on the Indian market by its subsidiary Zetor India Private Ltd.
