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23 AutoData | December 2018 I n June 2016, John Deere announced that it would invest R$ 80 million to produce three models of track tractors in Brazil that were already sold in the country. The forecast was to nationalize the products in 2018, but in the face of the dark scenario that the infrastructure sector lived during this period would be more than reasonable to imagine a project postponement. The company, on the other hand, kept the schedule and in March this year saw the ceremony that celebrated the production start of the models 700J, 750J and 850J, that even represented an expansion of 3 thousand m² of the unit inaugurated in 2014 thanks to an investment of US$ 180 million. The initiative was recognized by the AutoData Award voters and gave the title of OEM of Agricultural and highway Construction Machinery to the company this year. It is the first time that these machines are produced out of the United States. The models are destined to the Brazilian market and also export to countries in the Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia. The start of treadmill tractors production in Brazil also represented strategic action to allow the entry of these products in the equipment financing lines offered in the country, mainly by banks and governmental institutions, which is forbidden to imported products. Indaiatuba produces today, besides the three new tractors, eight types of loaders, nine excavators – being five John Deere and four Hitachi units, partner in the unit - and a backhoe loader. Last month, the company announced a new equipment nationalization project for Brazil, this time for three models of motor graders from 2021 on. For that, it will expand the factory in another 12 thousand m². For Roberto Marques, construction equipment sales director, “this recognition for us, that kept the investments even during a difficult period for the segment of infrastructure and construction, shows that we are working with a long-term view in Brazil. The victory in the AutoData Award 2018 certainly makes us very proud”. “This recognition shows that we are working with a long-term view in Brazil. The victory in the AutoData Award 2018 certainly makes us very proud.” Roberto Marques, construction equipment sales director of John Deere Tractor 850J, one of the models produced in Brazil by John Deere Disclosure/John Deere