Our World Just got bigger...

[mojoinco]

Seems to me that the 'special addition' is probably a way to explain away the badge engineered new Montana which are probably a lot over stock Branson's while Kukje gears up for the green paint (presuming Montana is around long enough, and can afford to pay for the change).

So what happens to the (as I understand it) LG models that Montana sold in the past?

 

[JoeinTX]

"Face it, Montana does not manufacture anything, they are just a group of investors....."

This entire thing is getting almost ridiculous.

Now, Montana is adding Kukje gear to its line and dropping their own color in addition to adding blue Farmtracs. Additionally, now LS is entering the market and adding dealers of it's own selling the 'real' Montana tractor in direct competition with.....Montana.

It sounds like we're headed for a "correction" in the sub/small tractor market involving these specific lines. Aside from providing an existing dealer base, what is Montana's reason for existing in the future? No unique, indentifiable product. Primary supplier is now looking to compete directly with it in the market and has the weight of the company behind it.

Montana is a marketing exercise. I remember they were all the rage 4-5 years ago but they've experienced much the same as the other recent start-ups.......dealer contraction, supplier concerns, an appearance of uncertainty.

Not anti-Montana or anything but it seems that once old man Hunt passed away that the company began to go downhill. Besides, if I've got a Branson, Mahindra, or LS dealer nearby I would just go ahead and buy from them rather take a bit of a risk on buying the red/blue/green badged version from the Montana guy.

Thoughts...?

 

[Mike120]

You are probably correct Joe. Around here the only dealers were folks who couldn't get a name brand. One specialized in lawn equipment the other in jetskis and ATV's.....both have gone belly up.

The Korean chaebol's are swimming in debt because of their cross-guarantee loan practices and all are loaded with off-the-balance-sheet liabilities. They'll either consolidate the brands or peddle them off to the Chinese. "Future parts availability" is an oximoron for these tractors.

 

[JoeinTX]

"One specialized in lawn equipment the other in jetskis and ATV's.....both have gone belly up...."

Exactly. I've seen this movie before and I know how it ends.

Fifteen years ago every exurban feed store/trailer lot/tack supply/used whatever dealer/antique store was peddling Zetors or Belarus. Made some numbers, hung around a few years......but ultimately little/no support structure behind them and the corporate source was unstable. Very, very few remain today and those that do really don't front those brands or they've added more recognizable ones that keep them in biz.

Montana has certainly done better than that but I'm sensing some of the same things here. Changes within the company and leadership.......product line getting muddled and uncertain......questions about support are really being asked.......dealers closing or switching to other lines.


I dunno. Just Sunday morning chit-chat to make the time pass but, seriously, where does the Montana brand fit into this in the future? Why does it go on?

 

[Fred Widom]

In todays tractor world,a company has to have a manufacturing base to survive or be a exclusive distributor.Montana will need one of these to be a player.Already a year has gone by after their takeover of the Farmtrac assets,but things have gone more muddled with the original green dissapearing and getting replaced with Blue and red.
Someone has miscalculated.Things look bad for Montana at present .But giving credit to them,they have survived without having anything to sell for almost a year now.(Someone surely has a lot of money to burn)

 

[YanmarFever]

Montana's countdown began a while ago......

Their credit rating is nothing to brag about, the future will tell more.

 

[JoeinTX]

"Montana's countdown began a while ago......"

Sounds like it.

Appears LG/LS let Montana know a while back that they were going to enter the U.S. market on their own like it or not at which point Montana began scrambling for new suppliers of product in the future. Explains the Kukje/Branson thing. But, with Farmtrac, they seem to have assumed a large amount of liability without any real promise of product to market. Are they trying to get in with Escorts as a future supplier (since none exists in the U.S. currently) and the move was done as a show of "good faith" in hopes of potential favor later? I haven't read of any agreement between the two for this, no? If not, are they just gonna sell through the surplus Farmtrac stock and then try to exist on red Bransons with "Montana" slapped on the side? I suppose the arrangement for the "C" series UTB sourced tractors is still ongoing?

Weird.

As another poster said, all of Montana's branding/imaging are getting shot to heck with the cookie-cutter blue and red orphans assembled upon their lots now. Current Montana owners are not going to be able to buy replacement/additional tractors sourced from the same maker........or even the same color. All different now and sounds like it could fluctuate still over the next few years as things get settled.


Wow. Well, I was never a potential Montana customer but this just fascinates me.

 

[wampum]

Was at a Montana dealer last week,hoping to see the r4944hst. He did not have it or the r4344 in stock. he did however have several blue landtrac and farmtracs rebadged as Montana. He even had a little red Montana on the show room floor with a the Branson name embossed in the rubber floor mat. He quoted me a really cheap price on the Montana r4944hst when it comes in,but I am really worried about parts in the future.

 

[JoeinTX]

I see you've been posting around, wampum.


I don't know if a Montana dealer can get or guarantee you a 43/4944 right now. The only real source for them now is direlect Farmtracs or Kukje Bransons. It would appear the green line from Montana is now the domain of LS dealers unless they have some scraps to scare up.

I would not expect a whole lot from Montana dealers for a while in terms of service or clear warranty. If you can get the same or equal from another I would probably do so.


Montana Tractor now owns all of Farmtrac's U.S. liability while only marketing their left-over scraps and Kukje/Branson re-rebadged items.


Sorry, Montana dealers and owners, but I wouldn't touch with your Mother-in-Law's 100' cane right now......

 

[JoeinTX]

And for people like wampum, it might be time to stear towards the local Kubota/Kioti/Mahindra/MF/JD/CNH dealer.

In this past year we've seen seemingly harmonious and secure LongAgri (of which I was a HUGE cheerleader) and Montana networks hit the skids with little warning. LS is looking "for real" now. Kukje seems comitted regardless of the colors/brands/names that get slapped upside them. For now.

I wouldn't buy a Bela or Zetor right now to save my own skin. ChiCom tractors? Who the He!! knows about them....?

Of the "off brand" bunch..........Mahindra surely seems the Rose right now. Own the product, the marketing, the support. LS is right behind them and on the up-swing for the same reasons.

Lesson to learn? Until the OEM stakes money and reputation on marketing, selling, and supporting the product in the U.S. then it's a risky option. When they don't......marketing agreement, etc.....wait.