Mumbai, May 2 Mahindra Tractors is launching a slew of new models, including variants that can be run on alternative fuels such as CNG and LPG.

According to company officials, tests are currently on and if everything goes well, a couple of new models would on the farm in the next three months.

Mr Ashok Sharma, Senior Vice-President, Farm Equipment Sector, M&M, said that the farm trials of the CNG and LPG variants are yet to be carried out and once this is done, the company will go in for commercial launch.

The fuel consumption gain of these new variants can be ascertained only after measuring the amount of CNG/LPG required to till an acre of land vis-À-vis conventional fuel.

However, it is estimated that the new models will be at least 30 per cent more fuel-efficient than diesel-run tractors.

“We already have bio-diesel-ready tractor and many other variants including solar and hybrid are at the drawing board level,” Mr Sharma told Business Line.
AC cabin-fitted models

The company sells more than 10,000 tractors below 70 Hp in US market. The company has also developed AC cabin-fitted tractors to strengthen its position in the US market, and plans to introduce them in the domestic market also.

The company has already charted out a plan to develop a low-cost tractor, which could help M&M widen its customer base in India and other markets such as Africa.

M&M hopes that the expansion of product portfolio and international operations will help it surpass John Deere and New Holland, its competitors in the global market.