Fendt tractors find high acceptance

In the past years, Fendt expanded market share all over Europe. While the European market share was at 5.7 percent in 2003, it almost topped the 7 percent mark in 2007. With a 20 percent market share in Germany, Fendt succeed in reclaiming first place for tractor registrations in the over-51 hp segment. These figures are a clear indication for the high acceptance of the Fendt tractors from the Allgäu region in Germany.

Undiminished demand

In Germany - still the market with the greatest unit sale volume for Fendt - demand has been undiminished. In the past year, 28,449 tractors were sold on the German market. "If we look at the business trend in the current year, we see continued demand," assessed Peter-Josef Paffen, Vice President at the Fendt Press Conference on 17 July in Ostrava in the Czech Republic regarding the current situation and forecast a similar positive market development for 2008 as the previous year.

In first place again

In 2007, Fendt won the annual head-to-head race for first place in the tractor registration statistics. This clearly shows that the high technological standard as well as the high quality of Fendt tractors have found great acceptance with customers. Looking at the current figures for the first half of 2008, Fendt is in first place for registrations 51 hp and up with a market share of 21.6 percent. Splitting these figures further and looking at market share at 101 hp or 151 hp, it is obvious where Fendt's strengths lie. For registrations 151 hp and higher, Fendt clearly lies ahead of the competitors with a market share of 29.1 percent. "In the current year, we are expecting a further increase of sales in the German market. In the past year, we sold 4,886 units, for 2008 we are targeting 5,680 tractors for the German market," said Paffen.

Export markets gaining greater importance

In the previous year, export markets have contributed significantly to achieving the company's targeted growth objectives. The export quota in 2007 was almost 64 percent. "The export business is gaining greater importance," explained Paffen.

France, for many years the most important export country for Fendt, with the largest unit sales volume, experienced a market increase of 1,700 units to 29,143 units sold. In line with the overall trend, Fendt increased tractor sales to 2,341 units and maintained market share at eight percent. For the current year, Fendt expects an additional increase in sales of about 12 percent.

The Italian market experienced a slight decline. In the past year, 709 tractors were sold there. The sales figures from the first four months of the current year suggest that the market is recovering.

The Spanish market recovered slightly in 2007 after two rather weak years and increased sales by 700 units to 17,089 units. Fendt expanded market share to four percent.

In Austria, demand was negligibly lower than in the previous year, but with almost 6,800 units, sales were still excellent. In Austria, Fendt succeeded in expanding market share to almost 10 percent (674 units).

In the Netherlands, after strong market growth in 2006, sales continued to climb. Fendt achieved a market share of almost 13 percent in 20007.

In the United Kingdom, demand climbed by almost 14 percent in the previous year. Fendt also succeeded in increasing sales according to the trend and sold 402 units.

In Belgium, the market remained flat over the past years. For the current year, Fendt expects to expand market share substantially and plans to sell 200 units on the Belgian market in 2008.

Switzerland experienced a completely different market situation than almost all the other markets in Europe. The Swiss government is making the planned free trade agreement with the EU palatable to consumers by offering price reductions of up to 25 percent. Farmers fear a corresponding decline in income and are therefore not ready to invest. Fendt therefore expects a sales volume comparable with that of the previous year - 240 tractors.

On the other hand, the markets in Scandinavia appear very positive. The number of incoming orders from Sweden and Denmark are high. In Finland, the changes made to the distribution organisation are now bearing fruit and sales of Fendt tractors where increased to 30 units in the previous year (2006: 10 units).

From Bulgaria to Estonia, Fendt sales figures are developing exceptionally well in the Eastern European countries that belong to the European Union. It is expected that some 1,300 tractors will be sold here in 2008. Sales in the CIS countries are also very encouraging. There are already 300 orders on hand for 2008, almost all for the top model, the 936 Vario with 360 hp. The trend towards machines with higher horsepower in these countries is very apparent.

In Australia, Fendt had to accept market share losses in 2005. Despite a declining market, Fendt managed to increase sales in the previous year and sold 112 tractors. The situation in New Zealand and Japan was similar.

Business in South Korea was extremely positive. While only a few tractors were sold there until now, Fendt managed to sell 79 tractors on the market and achieved a market share of three percent.

In North America, 193 Fendt tractors were sold in 2007, another increase of about 60 units. The incoming orders until now indicate a further increase in sales.

Rückfragen:
Sepp Nuscheler
- Pressestelle -
Tel.: 08342-77343 / Fax : 08342-77220
E-mail: pressestelle@xfendt.de