Mahindra has officially launched its latest Australian tractor range and is excited about the impact it can have on the subcompact and compact markets
Its name comes from a Sanskrit word meaning “powerhouse of energy”, and this is an apt moniker for Mahindra’s newest tractor range.
The OJA series was officially launched to the Australian market last month, with dealers from around the country converging on the Gold Coast to see the tractors in person.
Farms & Farm Machinery was invited to attend the launch, where figures including Mahindra’s head of global product planning, head of tractor product planning, and Australian national manager spoke with passion about the new product.
The OJA series of tractors is very much aimed at hobby farmers, lifestyle properties and maintenance jobs such as mowing.
Mahindra has built its title as the world’s largest tractor manufacturer by volume sold through targeting this lower horsepower market and constantly refining its products around what users in this segment need.
New addition
After about five years without a fresh launch to the Australian market, the manufacturer has returned with a bang by offering a product which it says offers best-in-class features in several crucial areas including power, strength, price and warranty.
The Australian range begins with the 1123 and 1126.
A 25hp engine on the 1126 compared to 23hp on the 1123 is one of the immediate differences, however many of the other specifications are the same.
These include a 420kg loader lift capacity, two-range hydrostatic transmission, 25L fuel tank capacity, 28.7L/min pump capacity, 11.7km/h maximum speed, Category 1 three-point linkage, and 735kg overall weight.
On the 2126 model, which is a larger machine, the overall weight increases to 980kg, loader lift capacity jumps to 580kg – along with an impressive 800kg lift capacity at the hitch, while there is a 42.3L/min pump capacity.
While the tractors may be in the smaller categories, they are still power packed and aim to provide the grunt needed for Australian agricultural usage.
“One feature that is important is the power to weight ratio, because it’s a lighter tractor,” Mahindra’s head of global product planning Ravindra Shahane says.
“For places like golf courses or landscaping, you don’t want to leave a mark on the ground, so you need to have a lighter weight tractor.
“All of this range is four-wheel drive, which is important on the agricultural side where you need to work with muddy conditions and you need a lot of power available on your wheels.”
Unique features
It is when looking at some of the unique selling points of the OJA range that the attention to detail Mahindra has applied to the design becomes clear.
One such feature, while in some ways simple, shows this clearly.
Start assist is a series of four lights on the dashboard that must all be green before the engine will turn on and has been added in recognition of the fact many OJA users will be first-time tractor buyers rather than lifelong farmers.
“To start a tractor, unlike a car, you need three or four things to be in neutral,” Shahane says.
“It can be very difficult for first time users to find out what’s not in place, so the smart assist is an indicator which tells you which one particular thing needs to be done before the tractor will start.”
Another small detail is a feature called ‘follow me home’, where the headlights will stay on for another minute after turning the engine off to ensure visibility remains when wrapping up a day’s work in potentially dark surrounds.
The attention to detail even extends to having colour-coded controls, with everything related to power takeoff in one colour, everything for motion in another and general applications in a different colour altogether – another simple feature which improves the user-friendliness for new operators.
Push button PTO removes the need to operate that aspect with a lever, while there are safety features to ensure it cannot be misused.
Many of these features will be particularly helpful for the first few times an operator sits on the tractor – or if a family member is sharing the load.
Shahane also highlights the operator experience as a benefit, with tests having been done to ensure farmers with large feet are still comfortable and spacious.
“The platform which the operator is using – the operating pedals and levers – is an area where we feel we have done a great job,” he says.
“The seat is extremely comfortable and there is tilt and telescopic steering like a car, which most other tractors don’t have, so that’s a unique proposition.”
Omkar Nabar, Mahindra’s head of international product planning for all markets outside India, says the OJA range is designed for “ease of operation, comfort and versatility”.
“There are features like start assist panel, the twin HST panels, the cruise control so you can run at a constant speed,” he says.
“You have colour-coded controls, you have the push button PTOs – all that will make it easy to operate.
“You have the loader joystick too, so you can see the easily fold your armrest and put your arm on it and comfortably operate the tractor.”
Summing it up
Two other elements which Mahindra is keen to highlight are price and warranty.
The 1123 is available with a loader and four-in-one bucket for $23,490 – a figure the company describes as best-in-class – with the 1126 listed as $25,490 and the 2126 at $27,900, each with the loader and bucket. These are Recommended List Prices, excluding pre-delivery and freight.
Across the range, there is also a three-year comprehensive and six-year Powertrain warranty as standard.
The Mahindra team is clearly excited to have the OJA tractors in Australia, following launches in some of its other key markets around the world.
It has been in the United States for about 18 months, where feedback on the tractors as a whole and many of their unique features have been positive.
All of this leaves Ankit Taneja, who heads up Mahindra’s agricultural business in Australia, confident that OJA will stack up well in the local market.
“On many of the features, we have the best-in-class performance parameters,” he says.
“The weight of the tractor is one of the highest in that segment, and the loader lift capacity is again way higher than the competition.
“Similarly, if you look at the lift capacity, it is one of the best in the segment.
“We are offering a great value proposition, plus a phenomenal warranty so that it brings peace of mind to farmers.
“Multiple features are best in class at a very competitive price because we really want to aim for a high market share in this highly competitive and price sensitive segment.”
The OJA range is available nationwide through Mahindra’s dealer network.