Kubota has announced that it will establish a new tractor factory in northern France, near Bierne, Dunkerque, as part of its global tractor strategy.

The company will build a brand new tractor factory and begin production at the site in December 2014.

Kubota president and CEO, Yasuo Masumoto, said: “We are planning to accelerate the global development of the agricultural machine business by developing our upland farming tractor, producing them locally and making a full scale entry in the global upland farming market.”

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Earlier this year, Kubota confirmed that it would aim to have local production for local consumption, hinting that it would either buy an existing tractor company or set up its own operations. With this announcement it has chosen to go it alone.

This new tractor factory will be a 100% Kubota investment starting at over €40 million. Trading as Kubota Farm Machinery Europe SAS, the company aims to build bigger tractors for sale in Europe, north America, Australia and Japan.

The aim of the operation is to build 3,000 tractors per year, in the 150 to 170hp sector by 2017, starting with a staff of 140 people.

Kubota is aiming to become an all-round agricultural machine manufacturer that can compete with global companies. It bought out the Norwegian Kverneland farm machinery business in May 2012 as its first step into the bigger farm machinery market. It has reported to have made significant investments at Kverneland to enhance the efficiency of the company and develop new products.