Mahindra Tractors names upcoming lightweight 40-model range as Oja

Mahindra Tractors, part of the Farm Equipment Sector at Mahindra & Mahindra, (M&M, has named its all-new lightweight global tractor platform (codenamed K2), as Oja. The name Oja is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Ojas’ which symbolises vitality, energy and strength.

The Mahindra Oja tractor platform will spawn all of 40 models, developed on four sub-platforms ranging from 20hp through to 70hp, which will be targeted at four key geographies and will roll out over the next three fiscals, starting this year.

The four sub-tractor platforms comprise the Sub-Compact, Compact, Small Utility and Large Utility tractor categories, covering 40 models across various multiple HP points. The Sub-Compact platform is expected to develop tractors in the 20-25hp range, Compact (21-30hp), Small Utility (26-40hp) and Large Utility (45-70hp). The K2 new tractor range programme, first outlined in March 2021, with a 37-model range, has been expanded to 40 models with three additional models.

In the just concluded FY2023, Mahindra Tractors farmed strong growth and achieved record sales of 407,545 tractors, up 15% year on year (FY2022: 354,698 units). This comprised 389,531 units in the domestic market, up 16%, and 18,014 export units, up 2%. Early in 2023 itself, it was known that the tractor maker was headed for record sales in FY2023, albeit it fell 10,469 units short of the 400,000 mark.

Future-ready farming platform

Clearly, the future-ready Mahindra Oja range, targeted at both Indian and key global markets, is designed to enable the company to broaden its global farming footprint and in turn achieve much higher sales volumes.

The Mahindra Oja 40-strong tractor range, whose primary markets are India, the US, South East Asia and Japan, has been developed through close cooperation between the engineering teams of Mitsubishi Mahindra Agriculture Machinery, Japan, and Mahindra Research Valley in Chennai, which is the R&D centre for Mahindra’s Auto & Farm sector.

Mahindra Oja tractors will be manufactured exclusively at the company’s modern Zaheerabad tractor plant, which is among the largest in South-Asia and also ranks as the company’s youngest tractor manufacturing plants. A vertically integrated tractor facility, this facility also rolls out Mahindra’s next-generation range of Yuvo and Jivo tractors, including the recently launched Plus Series of tractors.

 Currently, Mahindra is the sole tractor manufacturer in Telangana, having invested close to Rs 1,087 crore in Zaheerabad. The farm equipment sector employs over 1,500 workers, with a capacity of over 100,000 tractors per annum on a two-shift basis.

 The technologically advanced plant has with the manufacturing flexibility to roll out over 330 different tractor variants ranging from 30 to 100 hp. The plant, also produces rice transplanters and tractor-mounted combine harvesters, has adopted the TPM (Total Productive Maintenance) philosophy since inception, with around 65% of its tractor production being exported globally.

Hemant Sikka: "Slated for launch later this year, the OJA is Mahindra's future-ready approach to tractorisation exemplified by numerous first best-in-class technologies for improved performance and productivity."

Speaking on brand Mahindra Oja, Hemant Sikka, President – Farm Equipment Sector, M&M said, “Ahead of the global premiere of the production version of our most awaited tractor program codenamed K2, we at Mahindra are pleased to announce ‘OJA’ as the new brand name of Mahindra’s new lightweight tractor range. Slated for launch later this year, the OJA is Mahindra's future-ready approach to tractorisation exemplified by numerous first best-in-class technologies for improved performance and productivity, through which we aim to transform farming and enrich farmers' lives.”