Wedoany.com Report-Mar 12, The German tractor market took a small tumble last year with a decline of 3.4% in overall sales of tractors, with 29,291 units purchased in 2024, according to figures from the German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) and the German Engineering Federation (VDMA), and published by Fendt.
Fendt, however, have little to complain about as it bucked the market trend with a healthy increase of 20% in sales, or 1,281 extra units giving it 25.2% of the market.
John Deere, which has vied with Fendt for the top spot over the years, managed just 15.9% while third place went to Claas at 7.6% There was only a 142-unit difference between Class in third place and Kubota in fifth, with Deutz Fahr sandwiched between them.
India outsells Beauvais
Irish favourites New Holland (4.7%) and Massey Ferguson (4.2%) were relegated to the lower half of the top ten, with Indian manufacturer Sonalika coming between them on 4.4%.
Overall, AGCO brands secured exactly one-third of the market, around twice that of its nearest rival, John Deere. CNH achieved 10.7% with Case, Steyr, and New Holland combined.
Fendt might also be cheered by its 700 Vario Gen7 series coming in as the most popular tractor model in Germany in 2024. Over 1,500 units of the 728 Vario were registered while in excess of 1,000 Fendt 724 Vario units were sold.
Fendt defies cost barrier
By any measure, this is an incredible performance for Fendt which is sold as a premium tractor in all markets, including Germany, and it throws new light on expense being a major obstacle to purchase.
There is no doubt that the cost of new machinery is a huge barrier to purchase, but in Germany it appears that when the decision has been made to buy then there is a tendency to spend at the top end of the market.
John Deere are not renowned for being cheap either, yet between them the two brands account for 41% of sales, with Sonalika being the only budget-orientated tractor appearing in the top ten.
German brands rule
Another notable feature of the sales figures is the adherence of German farmers to German-based brands. Fendt and Deere (built in Mannheim) are followed by Claas (built in France) and Deutz Fahr, with Kubota being the top foreign brand in fifth place.
From an Irish perspective this may be puzzling as, although nobody doubts the quality of Kubota, it is still a name that has yet to fulfil its full potential here in Ireland.
It is suggested that it is unlikely to gain any greater popularity without the availability of a six cylinder engine, yet it sold 395 more units in Germany than New Holland.
Altogether it is clear that the German market is quite distinct from the Irish market, much of that can be traced back to Ireland being part of the Anglo American sphere of influence, whereas Germany developed a quite different tractor industry of its own in the latter half of last century.
Despite German brands dominating sales in Germany, not one of them is German-owned.
