Global tractor models are increasingly gaining ground in Brazil

For some time now, the term global vehicle has been used to designate automobiles that transcend several markets and are sold in several countries with the same model specifications and technical characteristics. In Brazil, it has always been a tradition to produce very specific vehicles, with their own design. In some cases, some automakers based their products on models produced abroad, which had similar characteristics, but with a different model name and technical characteristics adapted to the conditions of our country. Today, this reality has changed and several car models sold in our country, imported directly from the countries of origin or manufactured here, have the same characteristics and technologies.

It is no different with tractors. Since the beginning of the production of agricultural tractors in the country, in the early 1960s, that is, a little over 60 years ago, we have gone from a situation of total imports to a production capacity above demand. And, in the formation of the supply of each manufacturer, for many years the production of own models resulted, developed for our agricultural characteristics. For many years, the criticism persisted that our tractors were very simple, even basic, and represented an adequate stage for our conditions, but much less technological and safe than those produced abroad. We have always lagged behind in the technological issue, adopting ergonomic and technical resources that are out of date with the situation of developed countries, such as those aspects related to comfort (cab, controls, etc.), but also with respect to high on-board technology, such as logical connection and precision agriculture resources, to name a few.

With the increased use of technology in the field, producers, mainly those linked to agribusiness, began to pressure manufacturers and assemblers to include a large number of devices in the models on offer, for the use of items perfectly absorbed by users, such as telemetry, automatic pilot, electronic injection system, premium cabins, intense use of the hydraulic system, active suspensions, among many improvements.

This new reality generated demand and gave manufacturers the opportunity to include items that were previously only used in the international market, in more developed countries. A new standard of tractor was gradually emerging and those traditional models were relegated to a special market niche, which was increasingly restricted. On the other hand, this greater and more qualified demand began to require a more technological tractor that was increasingly closer to what was offered in richer markets.

From this new reality, to the increase in import and production of global models in the country was a small step and is now a reality in the portfolios of almost all companies operating in Brazil. To measure this reality, we went in search of the global tractors that are being offered in our country.

To characterize these models and enable the evaluation, we had to use some restrictive criteria. First, we were forced to limit our field of analysis, restricting the number of brands to be considered. Due to the difficulty in obtaining reliable production and sales figures for all manufacturers, knowing the “share” of each brand, we decided to include only traditional brands with their own factories in our country and that were among the sales leaders in Brazil. Thus, we limited the research to the brands Case IH, John Deere, Massey Ferguson, New Holland and Valtra. We also limited the search for information to four international markets, Brazil, the United States, Spain and France, that is, the Brazilian market, the United States and the European market, the latter represented by two countries.

We hope our readers understand, as expanding the range of brands and markets further would result in difficult information acquisition and analysis.

To define what constitutes a global model, we use two criteria: the model name and the maximum engine power. In order for a tractor to be considered global, according to our criteria, it must be the same in terms of model specifications and engine power. Even so, we analyze several other models, not as global, but with similar characteristics. These are cases of tractors that are manufactured in the four markets, but with a different model or engine power.

At this point, it is important to mention a very important issue, which is emissions legislation, which is specifically enforced in each country. The US standard is Tier; in Europe, Euro and in Brazil, Proconve MAR1. This can mean that tractor models and their engines are the same, but generate different power, depending on the level of demand of the regulations they comply with. It is possible that when different regulations are applied to the same engine, different usage limits arise and, therefore, different power values ​​result.

Another important issue concerns other brands, in addition to those we analyzed, and also some models of these five brands and others that are manufactured in markets other than those we analyzed, the United States, Europe and Brazil. We ask for the understanding of readers and interested parties.

After analyzing the offers in these four countries, a very interesting picture emerges, representative of the agricultural production process in each of these locations. In other words, the offer depends largely on the type of agriculture practiced in each location, but also on the market that the brand reaches from the country analyzed. To begin the search for global tractor models, we will analyze by brand and country.

Case IH

Case IH sells tractors in the four countries analyzed. In the USA, it offers 83 models ranging from the smallest, starting at 24,4 HP (the power unit used in the USA, 1 hp is equal to 1,0139 HP) to 715 HP. There, the Farmall Compact, Farmall Utility, Farmall, Vestrum Maxxum, Puma, Magnum, Optum and Steiger series are offered. In Brazil, the power range offered goes from 80 hp to 629 hp, with the Farmall, Puma, Magnum, Steiger and Quadtrac series. In France, the Quantum, Farmall, Vestrum, Maxxum, Puma, Optum, Magnum, Steiger and Quadtrac series are offered, with power between 75 hp and 715 hp. Finally, in Spain, 84 models with power ranging from 55 hp to 715 hp are offered, from the Farmall, Vestrum, Puma, Optum, Magnum, Steiger and Quadtrac series. There are several series offered abroad that are not offered in the Brazilian market.

Therefore, analyzing the four markets, it can be seen that there are several models that are offered in the four countries, with the Case IH brand being one of the brands that offers the most global tractors. From the Puma series, the Puma 185 and Puma 200 models; from the Magnum series, the Magnum 340, Magnum 380 and Magnum 400 models are global models, as is the Steiger 525 model.

John Deere

The John Deere brand offers models in the four markets analyzed. In the US market, where the brand originated, John Deere offers 103 models ranging from 21,5 HP to 830 HP, including the 5000, 5100, 600, 6M, 6MH, 6R, 7R, 8R, 8RT, 8RX, 9R, 9RT and 9RX series. In Brazil, the series offered begin with the exclusive one for our country, the 3000, with the 3036EN model, with only 36 hp, the 6100, 7200, 7M, 8000, 8R, 9R and 9RX, reaching a maximum power of 819 hp, with a total of 46 models. In France, the power range offered goes from 49 hp to 691 hp and includes the 5000, 5100, 6M, 6MH, 6R, 7R, 8R, 8RT, 8RX and 9RX series, with a total of 81 models. John Deere Spain offers a total of 94 different tractor models, between 49 hp and 913 hp, the latter being the brand's most powerful tractor. The series offered are 5000, 5100, 6M, 6MH, 6R, 7R, 8R, 8RT, 8RX, 9R, 9RT and 9RX.

Analyzing the brand's global tractor offering, it can be seen that the 8R 410, 9RX 590 and 9RX 640 models, the most powerful in the brand's portfolio, are effectively global, offered in all markets analyzed.

Massey Ferguson

The manufacturer Massey Ferguson offers tractor models in the four countries analyzed. In the USA, 62 models are offered with power options between 22,5 HP and 425 HP, divided between the 1526, GC1700, 1800E, 1800M, 2600H, 2800E, 2800M, MF 3, 4700, 5700, 6700, MF 5M, 5S, 6S, 5M, 5S, 6S, 7S, 8S, 8700 S and 9S series. In Brazil, 39 models with power between 57 hp and 370 hp are available on the market, comprising the 3300 Xtra, 3400, 4300, 4700, 5700, 6700, 6700R Dyna-4, 7300 Dyna-3, 7700 Dyna-6, 8700 S and 8S series. In France, the manufacturer offers 61 models with power between 20 hp and 425 hp, in the 1500, 1700E, 1700M, MF 3, 4700M, 5700M, 5S, 5M, 6S, 7S, 8S, 8700 S and 9S series. Finally, the brand offers 63 tractor models for the Spanish market, available in power ratings ranging from 35 hp to 425 hp, distributed in the 1700E, 1700M, MF 3, 4700M, 5700M, 5S, 5M, 6S, 7S, 8S, 8700 S and 9S series. The 4700, 5700 and 6700 series are offered in the Brazilian and US markets. In Europe, the series is designated with the letter M. There is information that this series, which is considered global by the brand, is also offered in other countries that were not part of our evaluation.

Thus, with the models organized in these four countries, it can be seen that the brand's global tractors, according to our criteria, are those of the 8S series, models MF 8S.245, MF 8S.265, MF 8S.285 and MF 8S.305, as well as those of the 8700 S Series, which includes the models MF 8732 S and MF 8737 S.

New Holland

New Holland also offers models in the markets of the four countries studied. In the USA, its portfolio includes 64 tractor models with power ranging from 35 HP to 645 HP, divided into the Workmaster, Boomer, T3F, T4, TK4, PowerStar, T5, T6, T7, T8 and T9 series. In Brazil, the brand offers 41 models with different power ratings, ranging from 55 HP to 646 HP, distributed across the TT, TTF, T3F, T4, TT4, TK4, TL5, 30, T5, T6, T7, T8 and T9 series. In the French market, it offers 104 tractor models with power options ranging from 24,7 HP to 435 HP, in the Boomer, T3F/LP, TK4, T4, T5, T6, T7 and T8 series. On the other hand, in Spain the company offers the market 130 models with power between 24 hp and 417 hp, divided into the Boomer, T3F/LP, TK4, T4, T5, T6, T7 and T8 series. It can be seen that in the high-power range series there is an alignment between the markets studied.

When observing the tractor manufacturer's offering in these four countries, it is clear that the global tractor is the T7.260 model, which is present in the intermediate power range among the tractors sold.

Valtra

Valtra is also present with tractors in the four countries analyzed. In the US market, 39 tractor models with power between 75 HP and 425 HP are available, distributed in the F, A, G, N, T, Q and S series. In Brazil, the brand is available in 44 tractor models with different power, ranging from 57 hp to 375 hp, with the A2s, A2R, A3F, A4s, BM, A4, A4 HiTech, BH G4, BH HiTech, T CVT, Q and S series. In France, 40 tractor models with power between 75 hp and 425 hp are offered, divided into the F, A, G, N, T, Q and S series. In the Spanish market, the manufacturer offers 36 models with power ranging from 75 hp to 425 hp, in the F, A, G, N, T, Q and S series. It can be seen that the single-letter designation for Valtra's series is a reality in three of the markets analyzed and appears to be a global alignment, which is not the case in Brazil.

Considering all the models sold by the manufacturer in the four countries analyzed, it can be seen that the global models are from the Q series, which correspond to the Q.265, Q.285 and Q.305 models.

Final considerations

It is worth analyzing one brand in particular, outside of our comparison, which is Fendt. Here in Brazil, the brand offers four imported models, Fendt 1100 Vario MT, Fendt 1000 Vario, Fendt 900 Vario and Fendt 700 Vario Gen7. All of these models are produced abroad and sold in the other three markets we analyzed. Although they do not fit into our basic criteria, it must be recognized that they are global models, by marketing.

The agricultural tractor market in Brazil has undergone a transformation in recent years, bringing to the offer of several brands some models offered in several countries around the world.

This sharing of models aligns the national market with other more developed markets with greater purchasing power, introducing into the country some technologies that were previously difficult to find in our field.

This study was developed based on the explicit offer on the web pages of the five brands involved, in January 2025. Evidently, this reality may change in the coming months and based on new launches at national agricultural fairs, mainly at Agrishow, in Ribeirão Preto.

Finally, it is worth highlighting the existence of other models of the brands analyzed that are produced in countries other than those selected for the research and that did not fit the criteria used.

Jose Fernando Schlosser,
Henrique Eguilhor Rodrigues,
Natalia do Nascimento Garcez,
Angelo Scremin Rizzatti,
Alexandre Manfio Cancian,
UFSM