Tractor owners’ overall satisfaction with product performance improves to 841 from 823 in 2017, illustrating a second consecutive year of improved satisfaction. The increase in satisfaction is observed in both the machine performance and quality and reliability indices.

“Younger cohorts in rural India are increasingly less influenced by word-of-mouth referrals in their new-product purchase decision and are evaluating products and services on several aspects before finalising their purchase, while also displaying lower brand stickiness,” said Yukti Arora, Practice Lead at J.D. Power.

“With a multitude of choices available, greater information accessibility and strong desire to explore different options, the younger generation of tractor buyers is relatively harder to please. Thus, the success of tractor manufacturers in attracting and retaining the attention of this new generation of buyers hinges on creating value that resonates with them. This set of progressively informed and demanding customers is exerting pressure on OEMs to exhibit unprecedented agility in delivering at a pace that matches their heightened and continually evolving expectations,” noted Arora.

The study also notes a high increase in cross-shopping rate among new tractor buyers over the last 4 years, with 21% customers stating they considered another tractor brand before buying their tractor in 2018, compared to only 14% in 2015. “Just being there is no longer enough to succeed in this market. To navigate through a crowded field of enhanced product offerings and latest technologies, tractor manufacturers need to create distinct experiences that stand-out from the clutter. Thinking of innovative ways of forging long-lasting relationships with customers will help OEMs to harness the opportunity that the sector presents today” said Arora. 

The following are additional key findings of the study:

• Above 50 HP segment posts highest satisfaction: Owners of above 50 HP tractors report the highest satisfaction on both machine performance and quality and reliability at 871 and 862 respectively, compared with below 31HP (847 and 841 respectively), 31-40 HP (835 each) and 41-50 HP (845 and 841 respectively) segments.

• Tyres remain an issue: Excessive or uneven tire wear continues to be the most frequently reported problem for the fourth consecutive year; it is also cited as the most bothersome problem by tractor owners.

• Loyalty is up: Overall loyalty and advocacy rates have gone up in 2018, with 58% of tractor owners saying they “definitely would” purchase the same tractor brand again, compared with 52% in 2017; 65% say they “definitely would” recommend their tractor brand, up from 56% last year.

Study Rankings

Mahindra Swaraj ranks highest in the below 31 HP and 31-40 HP segments, scoring 864 and 843 points, respectively. Swaraj leads in all seven machine performance categories in the below 31 HP segment, and in six of the seven categories in the 31-40 HP segment.

John Deere and Mahindra, in a tie, rank highest in the 41-50 HP segment with a score of 851 points. While the former performs particularly well in three of the seven machine performance categories, the latter leads in the remaining four categories. 

New Holland ranks highest in the above 50 HP segment with a score of 870 points.

The 2018 India Tractor Product Performance Index Study is based on responses from 3,835 tractor owners across 14 states. The study was fielded from January 2018 to May 2018 and includes owners who purchased a new tractor between January 2016 and May 2017 from an authorised dealership.

Source: JD Power

Innoline combines the efficiency and performance of the iEGR technology with the simplicity of the renowned “sada” or ‘Inline’ pump. Ashok Leyland is the only OEM in the world to achieve this innovative feat, which would bring immense benefits to its customers. This technology can be upgraded and used for BS6 engines as well.

Innoline, as the name suggests, is the innovative inline pump or the upgraded “SADA” pump. This inline pump is well known in the Indian commercial vehicle industry and is preferred by the drivers and service mechanics alike. Apart from the benefits of the iEGR technology, like lower cost of operations and no hassles of AdBlue (Urea), Innoline makes the maintenance of the engine much simpler for the mechanics, and gives a hassle-free service experience to the customers.

Continental’s experts drafted and implemented the design of the Conti e.MotionPro based on the layout coordinated with MAN. During the production of the green tyre at the plant in Púchov (Slovakia), the sidewall shell was manufactured by hand and “pulse blue” paint applied to the sidewall while the tyre was heated. The custom-made profile was then created in a laborious robotic cutting process and refined by experienced tire carvers in Stöcken, Hanover. At the same time, small rubber parts were pasted into the grooves by hand. Continental is one of the few tire manufacturers that can manually produce individual designs in small quantities.

The MAN CitE is characterised by its ergonomic design with low entry, a consistently flat driver’s cab floor and easy accessibility. In addition, the low seating position, large glass surfaces and supporting cameras give the driver and front passenger a clear view of the surrounding traffic. The brand new electric truck concept, which was developed in just 18 months, sets standards in terms of workplace ergonomics, safety and sustainability in urban delivery traffic.

 Klaus Kreipe, Head of Original Equipment Truck Tires at Continental, explains the challenges in tyre development: “Electric vehicles can temporarily be fitted with conventional tyres. However, the new powertrains and the new vehicle concepts that are sometimes associated with them will change the requirements for commercial vehicle tyres. We are currently making use of partnerships to gain valuable experience for the development of tyres for electric trucks and buses.”

Together with commercial vehicle manufacturers and municipal bus companies, Continental wants to develop tyres with cutting-edge technologies for the start of production of electric vehicles, Kreipe announced.

Optimising the vehicles’ range requires low energy consumption, i.e. optimum rolling resistance. New vehicle concepts can also mean changed center of gravity position, wheel loads and torques, and thus present potential challenges for the load capacity or wear resistance of the tyres, for example. Increased load capacity or tractive power can also result in expanded requirements. Continental would like to develop and produce tyres specifically for this. Especially with regard to optimised rolling resistance, the tire producer has many years of experience with - tyres with reduced fuel consumption and a leading position among the competition.

Source: Continental