Cooper Corp eyes tractor, CV markets; plans to double turnover within 5 years

After establishing itself in the engines and components businesses, Satara-based Cooper Corporation wants to enter the tractor industry.

The project has reached the prototype stage and various tests are currently underway. In an exclusive interview with Autocar Professional, Farrokh Cooper, chairman and MD, Cooper Corporation, said: "We are looking at offering a range of tractors." He added that the range will be aimed at both domestic and export markets. The company, which earns half of its revenue from export markets, will tap overseas distributors for the new business. The tractor range could be from 20 horsepower to 75 horsepower.

Even as the tractor prototypes undergo tests, Cooper Corporation's first light commercial vehicle is ready for launch. "The vehicle is ready, the market isn't," says Cooper. The industry feels that the current conditions in the commercial vehicle market, where some transporters have as much as 40 percent of unutilised fleet, entry of a new player is not a good idea. But when the commercial vehicle market conditions turn conducive, Cooper Corporation may look beyond the light commercial vehicle segment. It manufactures engines ranging from 20 horsepower to 280 horsepower and Cooper says that his company could also come up with medium and heavy commercial vehicles that use these engines.

The realisation of plans for tractors and trucks could still be a year or so away. Currently the company is stepping on the gas to leverage its strength in engines and components to double its current annual turnover of Rs. 700 crore within 5 years. The company says it will leverage its R&D unit to explore the possibilities of developing new products.

Cooper has a technical collaboration with Ricardo UK for the design of its state-of-the-art family of engines in 2-, 3-, 4- and 6-cylinder configurations. Cooper, who turns 70 today, is bullish about his company's prospects and feels that the power sector will continue to be the biggest contributor to the company's revenues in the coming years too.