Putting durability and value at the forefront has held Mahindra tractors in good stead for many years, and is a philosophy the company is proud of
For Mahindra to become the world’s largest tractor manufacturer by volume of units sold, they are clearly doing something right.
With deep roots in India’s agricultural revolution – which is a major contributing factor towards that global status – the brand is also celebrating 20 years in the Australian market during 2025.
The manufacturer’s history in its homeland dates back more than 75 years, before beginning tractor production in the early 1960s.
Since then, Mahindra has forged a reputation for producing tough, utility models aimed at customers who value having rugged and reliable machinery about all else.
Locally, Mahindra offers a range of no-nonsense tractors that have appealed to everyone from hobby farmers to graziers and has built a strong reputation during its two decades in the Australian market.
The brand’s next chapter will be steered in part by Matt Kruger, who joined Mahindra Australia at the end of 2024 as its ag sales manager, bringing considerable experience from the agricultural machinery sector.
Targeted approach Mahindra’s philosophy is not to take on the largest of Australian broadacre markets, where the tractors can exceed 500hp and be equipped with all the technology needed to handle thousands of hectares.
Instead, the manufacturer has focused on the market up to 90hp, producing tractors that are simple to operate and durable enough to handle the jobs required by these farmers without hassle.
“There’s some wonderful technology out there that other manufacturers are offering, but for the market that we’re approaching, sometimes it’s too much and it’s not utilised,” Kruger says.
“We’ve found that customers like Mahindra tractors for their simplicity and price.
“They still can do everything they need to do but with simplicity comes reliability, as you’re not adding on a lot of electrical architecture that can and will pose issues if it’s not well maintained and well cared for.”
Hobby farmers are one of the main markets which Kruger believes Mahindra tractors are popular with, where simplicity and price are two of the main drawcards.
“What we tend to find in that market is people use them for maybe three or four hours over the weekend and then it may sit for another month before it gets used again,” he says.
“They’re not racking up the 14 hour days that we would see in the broadacre market, so simplicity and reliability – plus the price point – is what they want.
“These are tractors which you can turn on for a few hours without needing to do much maintenance, turn it off, and then it’s good to go and ready to work for you again next time you jump on.”
The other market which Kruger says has been popular is with graziers, who are looking to pull balers and move hay around.
In this segment, which could best be described as the utility market, he believes Mahindra is “very well priced compared to some of our competitors” along with offering the ruggedness needed for this type of work.
Local lineup
While affordability and simplicity are two of Mahindra’s key goals, it would be doing the manufacturer an injustice to say this is all its tractors have to offer.
As an example – one model within Mahindra’s Australian range is the 4025.
This unit is described as a “great entry point” for customers wanting a step above a compact tractor, and Kruger says it is “the sort of tractor which anyone with a bit of mechanical knowledge could work on” rather than being packed with complex electronics.
Its four-cylinder Mahindra-built engine produces 40hp and is backed up by a 1,600kg lift capacity on the three-point hitch.
A simple and strong transmission, robust cast iron chassis and affordable price are among the examples of Mahindra’s overall philosophy in action.
From there, it is only a small increase in price to the 3650 PST, which increases the technology without sacrificing the brand’s dependable reliability, along with providing a boost in power to a 50hp engine.
“This tractor still has simplicity but is much more refined and has got some of those creature comforts, which makes it a step up,” Kruger says.
The comfortable operating environment includes a host of standard features such as fully flat operator deck, side shift gear controls, suspended brake and clutch pedals, plenty of legroom, wide formed cushions on the seat, adjustable suspension and armrests, along with a tiltable steering column.
It also offers a quick hitch design that allows operators to switch from buckets to pallet forks or bale spikes easily and quickly, along with a quick attach design that means the loader can be easily installed and removed with just two pins.
Mahindra’s Australian range is extensive, with various models across the size categories enabling farmers to find something ideally suited to their needs.
At the top end of its offering are the 7580 and 7590, which offer 80hp and 90hp respectively and which Kruger believes are best suited to those in the grazier and utility markets.
These are both 4WD tractors which offer ruggedness and performance along with an increased engine capacity to handle the larger jobs.
Strong presence
Mahindra Australia has a strong national presence, with its head office in Brisbane backed up by a considerable national dealer network and growing footprint in rural communities.
Having experienced Australian agriculture through a different lens, and having recently weighed up the merits of joining Mahindra himself, Kruger is excited about the brand’s potential and is looking forward to helping it grow during a milestone year and beyond.
“I grew up on a farm and have been running around equipment my entire life basically,” he says.
“I spent more than a decade with another leading manufacturer but was genuinely impressed with the quality of Mahindra and that is why I decided to move.
“I knew that they were the largest tractor manufacturer by volume and units worldwide, which had always impressed me, and I knew they were very well regarded in the Indian market.
“Indian farmers definitely put the tractors through their paces and I knew that if they survived in that sort of environment, they were guaranteed to be set up for success here in Australia.
“The other thing which really impressed me was the reliability – it’s a top-quality tractor at an affordable price point.”
Mahindra’s full Australian tractor range can be viewed online at www.mahindraag.com.au