Doosan Bobcat has opened its new backhoe loader plant in India, thus marking its entrance into one of the world’s three largest markets for the compact construction equipment industry.
Doosan Bobcat acquired the plant which has a site area of 80,000 m2, factory floor area of 15,000 m2 and is capable of producing 8000 machines a year to minimize its risk of investment. By shortening the period from preparation time to shipping time compared to the time taken to establish an entirely new plant, the company will be able to start releasing its first batch of backhoe loaders in the second half of next year.
Doosan Bobcat has entered the backhoe loader market in a bid to expand its emerging market portfolio with the aim of exploring mid- and long-term growth engines. India’s compact equipment market where, backhoe loader sales account for more than 80%, is the third largest in the world after the US and China. Since 2014, the Indian backhoe loader market has grown at an average annual rate of 9.7%.
Scott Park, president and CEO, Doosan Bobcat, said: “With government-led infrastructure investment increasing in recent years, the compact market is growing rapidly in India, making it a highly attractive market. Our mid and long-term goal, beginning with backhoe loaders, is to lead the Indian small construction machinery market.”
