Agco says it still is and will continue to be the marketer of Valtra farm equipment in Canada and the U.S., and refutes “erroneous reports” online suggesting otherwise.
“In response to several erroneous reports on the future of the Valtra brand in this marketplace, Valtra remains important to Agco,” Todd Stucke, Agco’s vice-president for professional producers marketing, said in a release Wednesday.
“We will continue to stand behind Valtra dealers and customers in the U.S. and Canada. Our superior service and parts capabilities will remain a top priority.”
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A number of Valtra tractor owners had been phoning Agco after having seen recent unsubstantiated claims online that the company was shutting down its Valtra distribution, parts and service operations, according to Agco high-horsepower product marketing specialist Rene Boivin.
Asked where such a rumour might have originated, Boivin said in an interview Thursday that “sometimes it can come down to (product) options that might be offered in Europe, and then we don’t take them on in North America.”
The company saw discussions building on blogs and online forums and decided to clear the air, he said.
“Although Valtra has an extensive product line worldwide, we will continue to make product by product decisions on which Valtra models to market in North America based on market potential and the needs of our customers,” Stucke said in Agco’s release.
While Valtra tractors, built in Finland and Brazil, are a “top seller” in South America and the Nordic countries, the brand has a “relatively niche” market in Canada and the U.S., Atlanta-based Agco said Wednesday.
