Five years after Japan’s Kubota Corp acquired majority control of Escorts, the merged entity, Escorts Kubota, is struggling to gain significant market share in India’s competitive tractor sector. Domestic sales growth lagged the industry at 11% versus 20%, though exports rose 54%. Management acknowledged delays in aligning Indian and Japanese strengths, rebuilding systems, and developing a quality-focused corporate culture. The limited Kubota product lineup, import dependence, and regional gaps hindered growth, but new models and a fully localised Indian platform are being launched to address these challenges.
