Deere Joins Hattat To Make, Sell Tractors In Turkey

Deere & Co. and the Hattat Group of Turkey have agreed to form a joint venture company for the production of 50-90 hp tractors and the distribution of John Deere agricultural equipment throughout Turkey. Deere & Co. will own the majority interest in the newly formed corporation, to be called John Deere Hattat AS. The agreement includes the founding of a factory to make tractors under 100 hp and related components in Cerkezkoy, 56 miles west of Istanbul, and the development of a dealer network providing service and spare parts for John Deere agricultural machinery. The factory will become operational early in 2001. Further terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Deere, which last week announced it will curtail production at some plants due to a drop in U.S. farm equipment purchases such as combines, will be expanding an Augusta, Ga., tractor plant.