Cnh investe 50 milioni in Italia, a Jesi si amplia la gamma di trattori

Cnh is investing 50 million euros in its plants in Jesi and Modena, as well as its research and development center in San Matteo, with the goal of expanding the range of Made in Italy tractors within its group. Markus Mueller, the Group's EMEA president, recently announced a joint venture with Japanese Kobelco (70%) for the construction machinery business, amid a difficult market phase and rising fuel and fertilizer costs, as well as the impact of climate change.

These factors are prompting the industry to respond quickly with higher-powered and larger tractors to speed up harvesting and adapt to reduced timelines due to climate change. Jesi's plant is broadening the range of tractors produced, thanks to a new model moved from Saint Valentine's factory in Austria, with an estimated investment of 15 million euros complementing the 35 million euros already invested in San Matteo's research and development center and the Modena site.

Unions estimate a production of around 350 machines this year in Jesi, with line interventions likely to be completed by the upcoming summer. Mueller emphasizes that the Jesi site is crucial for Cnh, and the company aims to expand its product portfolio, leveraging this opportunity to prioritize higher-powered and larger machines.

The message remains that there are no discussions about the Jesi site, which has been in a precarious situation for months and where there is an upcoming agreement on the integration fund for the 750 employees. The investment aims to increase production volumes and secure the site. In a complex context, agriculture is called upon to respond urgently to these challenges by adopting precision farming models that reduce water, fertilizer, and fuel consumption, as well as contain operational costs.

At the Eima, the international agriculture fair currently taking place in Bologna, Cnh is presenting the latest technological applications developed in collaboration with the American Raven, acquired by the Group in 2021, and is reiterating its digital retrofit system for the circulating machinery park. "Developing innovations useful for maintaining soil quality is fundamental for us, and our specialists study the impact of machinery on the soil, developing precision farming solutions to reduce fertilizer use and implement concrete sustainable agriculture practices to positively contribute to crop yield and quality," Mueller adds.

Last Monday, the Group announced a new joint venture for the construction sector, shortly after the completion of the deal that saw another historic asset of Exor, Iveco, pass to Indian Tata Motors. This move consolidates the Group's industrial asset and focuses its core business on agricultural machinery, where Cnh has a strong market presence in the US, Europe, and South America.

In the third quarter of the year, European, Middle Eastern, and African demand for tractors and harvesters decreased by 4% and 3%, respectively, while net sector sales decreased by 2% to 2.9 billion dollars, with declining volumes in South America and the EMEA region partially offset by growth in Asia-Pacific and favorable price dynamics.

Italians will meet with the Group's executives at the Cae, the meeting of the union components from various European countries, on December 3rd. Metalworkers have expressed their willingness to meet with the CEOs to examine the Kobelco deal dossier and evaluate the impact on Italian construction assets.