Chennai, Sep 15 (IANS): World's third largest tractor-maker Tractors and Farm Equipment Ltd (Tafe) will soon launch two new product platforms under its Eicher brand, said a top company official on Thursday.

The company would also start exporting 100 hp tractors to African nations, the official said.

Speaking to reporters here at the launch of Tafe's new Smart series and India's first premium compact utility tractor, Mallika Srinivasan, Tafe Chairperson and CEO, said: "The Eicher brand tractor range will be expanded. We will be soon launching two new platforms for Eicher range of tractors. We will also export 100 hp Eicher brand tractors."

She said Tafe aims to ship out around 18,000-20,000 units this year out of its total sales of around 155,000 tractors.

According to company officials, the company will be shipping out sizeable number of 100 hp tractors to the African market under the Tafe brand.

The company has three brands -- Massey Ferguson, Eicher and Tafe. The first two brands are sold in the domestic market and the Tafe-branded tractors are for export markets like Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and parts of Europe.

Speaking about the new range of tractors, Srinivasan said the premium compact utility tractor is the first of its kind in the country and would create a new market segment.

"Farm operations are undergoing increased mechanisation as labour is getting costlier and short in supply. The 28 hp tractor will find use in orchards, haulage or a wide range of infrastructure applications," Srinivasan said.

The vehicle has attachments like front-end loader and backhoe.

She said that with the new Smart series tractors, the company will redefine customer experience with respect to productivity, efficiency and return on investment.

Agreeing that some of the Tafe vehicles were priced higher than competing products, Srinivsan said the technology will enable the owner to recoup his investment faster.

Queried about the company's plant in Turkey, she said it is doing well.