The company ZETOR TRACTORS a.s. and VST Tillers Tractors Ltd. unveiled new tractors for the local market last week at CII Agro Tech India 2022 in Chandigarh, India. The cooperation on their development between Zetor and the traditional Indian manufacturer follows the signing of a memorandum of mutual cooperation, which the companies concluded together in 2020. Among the important guests who attended the ceremonial presentation were, in addition to representatives of both companies, 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 under the joint VST Zetor brand in the Indian market and have been designed precisely for the needs of local farmers. These are reliable and durable machines, the basis of which is a powerful engine of our own production. Simple operation and a short turning radius enable the new tractors to perform a wide range of work tasks even in difficult working conditions.
“The development of the Zetor VST tractor was not an easy time. The worldwide Covid-19 pandemic and the associated various restrictions, limitations and disruptions of the global market have been a big challenge for all of us. But also thanks to the professional approach of VST partners, we managed to overcome these obstacles and create a machine that has all the prerequisites to become successful. In recent weeks, the prototypes have successfully passed the final phase of testing at our production and development center in Brno, and we expect that customers will take delivery of the first tractors next year,” said Róbert Harman, CEO of ZETOR TRACTORS a.s., who unveiled both innovations together with Antony Cherukara , Managing Director of VST Tillers Tractors Ltd.
VST was founded in 1967, but its history dates back to 1911. It is a pioneer in the field of motor cultivators in India and at the same time its largest manufacturer. In addition, it also manufactures tractors and other agricultural implements. It operates globally in more than 20 countries in Asia, Europe and Africa.
“Since the beginning of our company’s existence, we have wanted to bring innovative and high-quality products to our customers. Cooperation with Zetor has enabled us to launch products that offer higher productivity, convenience and simplicity and thus meet the demands of today’s farmers. VST Zetor is developed to provide the best possible performance for the best possible work results of our customers. In the near future, we plan to launch other models of VST Zetor tractors on the market,” added Antony Cherukara.
Zetor’s operations in South Asia have a long tradition dating back to the 1960s, when thousands of Brno tractors began to be exported to India. Several partnerships with local producers followed in the form of licensing agreements or joint ventures. Between 1970 and 1990 alone, over 60,000 tractors left the gates of Indian factories in this way.