By Olivia Hart

India’s tractor retail market grew 3.1% year on year in October 2026, reaching 79,285 registrations, but the gain concentrated among established manufacturers rather than lifting every brand. Retail volume rose by 2,387 units from 76,898 in October 2025, based on Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations data drawn from the VAHAN database.

This was moderate industry growth, not a broad sales surge. CNH Industrial posted the fastest percentage increase among individually reported manufacturers, Sonalika delivered double-digit growth, and Mahindra extended its lead. TAFE stood apart as the only major original equipment manufacturer to register a year-on-year decline.

How did Mahindra consolidate its lead?

Mahindra and Swaraj together registered 32,469 tractors in October, equal to 40.95% of the market. That put nearly two of every five registrations with the group and lifted its combined share by nearly 1.5 percentage points, from approximately 39.46% a year earlier.

The Mahindra tractor division recorded 18,263 registrations, up 7.6% from 16,967, and held 23.03% share. Swaraj contributed 14,206 registrations, up 6.2% from 13,379, with 17.92% share. The two divisions grew by roughly 7%, reinforcing Mahindra’s position as the market leader.

Who gained share in October?

• International Tractors, or Sonalika: Registrations rose 13.3% to 10,364 from 9,151. Its share advanced to 13.07% from 11.90%, a gain of 1.17 percentage points.
• CNH Industrial: Volume climbed 28.9% to 3,992 from 3,096. Share rose to 5.04% from 4.03%, crossing the 5% threshold. The result was the strongest percentage growth among individually reported manufacturers in the FADA dataset.
• Escorts Kubota: Registrations reached 8,331, up 5.4% from 7,902. Market share edged up to 10.51% from 10.28%.
• John Deere India: The company registered 6,439 tractors, up 6.1% from 6,067. Its share increased to 8.12% from 7.89%.
• Eicher Tractors: Registrations rose 2.7% to 4,858 from 4,729, giving Eicher a 6.13% share.

Why did TAFE lose ground?

TAFE registered 9,256 tractors in October 2026, down 4.5% from 9,695 in October 2025. Its share fell to 11.67% from 12.61%, a decline of 0.94 percentage points. It was the only individually listed major tractor OEM to contract during the month.

That placed TAFE fourth in the October division ranking, behind the Mahindra and Swaraj divisions and Sonalika, but ahead of Escorts Kubota. Sonalika’s growth moved it ahead of TAFE in the rankings, while CNH expanded its position from a smaller base.

How much has the market concentrated?

The eight individually reported manufacturer divisions expanded their combined share to 95.49% from approximately 92.31% in October 2025. The Others category fell to 3,576 registrations from 5,912, down 39.5%, and accounted for 4.51% of the October market.

Auto Punditz’s market-share analysis identifies three changes: Mahindra consolidated its leadership; Sonalika and CNH gained from smaller bases; and established manufacturers captured more of the market. The redistribution is visible in the contraction of the Others category even though total industry registrations increased.

What changes for manufacturers and dealers?

For manufacturers, the practical distinction lies in share movement, not merely the market’s 3.1% growth. Mahindra, Sonalika, CNH Industrial, Escorts Kubota and John Deere expanded their positions, while TAFE and the fragmented Others category lost ground.

For dealers, October narrowed the field in which tractor brands compete for attention. The strongest volume base remains with Mahindra Group, while Sonalika gained a point of share and CNH crossed 5% from a smaller base. The commercial pressure therefore falls on TAFE’s declining position and on manufacturers grouped within Others, whose combined registrations contracted sharply.

Broader demand did not drive every gain. The industry added only 2,387 registrations, so the October result was primarily a contest for share. Mahindra’s scale, Sonalika’s double-digit expansion and CNH’s 28.9% growth changed their competitive positions; TAFE’s 4.5% contraction marked the clearest setback.