Friday, 24 May 2019 11:45

Square-off in the tractor market

Written by  Mark Daniel

John Deere and Mahindra have squared off in the US over the latter’s advertising claims.

John Deere complained that its Indian rival had been exaggerating the number of tractors it had sold.

The National Advertising Review Board (NARB) in the US told Mahindra it should modify its claims to being “No. 1 selling tractor” and “over 2.1 million Mahindra tractors sold”, and that it should cease referring to “best warranty” and “superior oil protection”.

Deere complained to the National Advertising Division (NAD) in 2018, saying the “No. 1” claim was misleading and did not disclose the total number of tractors included as Mahindra and Mahindra-owned Swaraj branded products. It also excluded certain vehicles from the definition of ‘tractors’.

The NAD also recommended that Mahindra cease claiming “the industry’s best warranty”. But it did not preclude the company from making truthful claims for specific attributes of the warranty that made it superior to its competitors, notably the duration of the warranty. 

The NAD also recommended that Mahindra should stop claiming “superior protection with our branded oils” due to a lack of supporting evidence.

Mahindra has appealed the NAD’s recommendation to the NARB, which suggested that the “No. 1” claim be qualified with a clear disclosure of all the tractor brands involved and an indication of the time period to which the claim relates. 

Mahindra argued that its “best warranty” claims were “puffery” and even if they were not, that their powertrain warranty was indeed longer than any of its competitors’.

Mahindra has advertised that it has agreed to comply with the findings.

More like this

Milk Sustainability Centre launched

The recently announced Milk Sustainability Centre – a collaboration between global giant John Deere and milking and feed specialists De Laval – is said to deliver dairy farmers a new tool to enhance efficiency and sustainability, while also rising to the challenges of changing regulations that affect their businesses.

Quick, accurate access to data

Agri-tech company Precision Farming is linking with John Deere’s Operations Centre guidance technology to automate nutrient and spray record-keeping and Nitrogen Cap compliance for farmers.

JD set to run with Skechers

Probably best known for its tractors, harvesters and farm equipment, it looks like John Deere is about to put its long-recognised and trademarked catch phrase of ‘Nothing Runs Like a Deere’ into practice.

Featured

Agnition announces new online sales channel

Ravensdown’s venture arm, Agnition, has announced a new online sales platform in an effort to give Kiwis more choices for how they purchase fertiliser and other agricultural products.

‘Nanobubble’ trial trims irrigation water usage

North Canterbury dairy farmer and recently-elected deputy chair of DairyNZ, Cameron Henderson, is enjoying a huge reduction in irrigation water use after converting a pivot irrigator to drag perforated drip tubes across the ground instead of elevated sprinkler heads.

National

Sweet or sour deal?

Not all stakeholders involved in the proposed merger of honey industry groups - ApiNZ and Unique Manuka Factor Honey Association…

Machinery & Products

Loosening soil without fuss

Distributed in New Zealand by Carrfields, Grange Farm Machinery is based in the Holderness region of East Yorkshire – an…

JCB unveils new models

The first of the UK’s agricultural trade shows was recently held at the NEC Centre in Birmingham.

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Times have changed

OPINION: Back in the 1960s and '70s, and even into the '80s, successive National government Agriculture Ministers and Trade Ministers…

Hallelujah moment

OPINION: The new Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche has just had the hallelujah moment of the 21st century in…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter