Escorts Kubota's Rs 400 Crore Investment to Establish World's Largest Plant in India

Escorts Kubota, a prominent tractor and implements manufacturer, is establishing a new plant in Ghiloth, Rajasthan, marking it as the largest Kubota facility globally. The company is investing Rs 400 crore to acquire the required land for this ambitious project. Once operational, the plant will significantly enhance Escorts Kubota's production capacity, effectively doubling it. In addition to tractors, the plant will manufacture engines and implements.

Currently, Escorts operates with a capacity of 150,000 units per annum at its Faridabad factory, with an additional 50,000 per annum capacity through its joint venture (JV) with Kubota. With the new plant, Escorts will consolidate the JV assembly lines into its operations, while the Chennai plant will continue to focus on assembling farm implements. The Pune facility, responsible for tractor production, will be integrated into the Faridabad plant.

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Funding for the new plant will primarily come from internal accruals, leveraging the company's robust financial position. Escorts Kubota boasts a surplus cash reserve of Rs 5,700 crore and operates without any debt, providing a solid foundation for this expansion. The greenfield plant will also serve as a hub for manufacturing Kubota engines in India, catering to both domestic and export markets gradually, starting with tractors, followed by engines, and finally farm implements.

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Despite the expansion plans, Escorts Kubota, like many other auto companies, has faced challenges in exports, particularly due to the demand slowdown in the US and Europe. Additionally, the recent Red Sea crisis has led to increased logistics costs and time, impacting the company's export operations. In the first nine months of FY24, Escorts exported approximately 450-500 tractors per month, reflecting a decline of around 32% year-on-year.

Overall, the establishment of the new greenfield plant represents a significant milestone for Escorts Kubota, positioning it as a key player in the global agricultural machinery market. The company's strategic investment in expanding production capacity and diversifying its product offerings underscores its commitment to meeting the evolving needs of farmers in India and beyond.

Also Read: Escorts Kubota Tractor Sales Report January 2024: Tractor Sales Witness Decline Due to Less Demand