German manufacturer CLAAS yesterday announced the official handover of all the necessary building and operating permits for the new multifunctional production facility at the Le Mans site. With an investment of 6.5 million euros, the company is reaffirming its long-term commitment to the region and its importance in CLAAS’ global production network.

Landpower, the New Zealand and Australian distributor for CLAAS, and is encouraged by this move. 

Landpower Chief Executive Richard Wilson says, “For years, CLAAS has been the trusted name in harvesting. CLAAS has channeled everything they’ve learned in harvest—the innovation, the engineering excellence, the deep understanding of how customers work—into a growing range of tractors.  This investment signals their intention to strengthen their offering in this category further”.  

CLAAS is set to expand its tractor production site in Le Mans as part of this project. This expansion is a decisive step in preparing the site for the expected growth in production over the next ten years. The tractor business is seen as a significant growth opportunity for CLAAS Group.

Thomas Spiering, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the CLAAS Group, emphasised the strategic importance of the Le Mans site: “Le Mans is the heart of our global tractor business. We have come to stay – and we have proven this by investing more than 80 million euros to date in the transformation of this site into a model of modern tractor manufacturing. This investment in our new multifunctional production facility is an important milestone in the expansion of our production capacity. It increases our operational flexibility, supports further vertical integration and expands our capacity to act in the global production network. At the same time, it strengthens our long-term partnership with the region Pays de la Loire.”

CLAAS has been operating the tractor plant in Le Mans, France, as well as sites at Trangé (test and validation centre) and Vélizy (development) since 2003, and has since produced more than 200,000 tractors for the global market there. At the same time, continuous investment has been made in the modernisation and further development of the site – such as a new cab pre-assembly line, an ultra-modern and flexible assembly line, a new paint shop, a visitor centre and training facilities at the CLAAS Academy. Tractors from 75 to 450 hp engine power currently roll off the production line there, including the ARION 660 CMATIC, a finalist in the Tractor of the Year 2025 competition.

Despite difficult conditions in the farm machinery industry, CLAAS has made targeted investments in future projects, new technologies, and its production network to ensure sustainable growth and drive innovation.

“We have proudly represented CLAAS since 1987, and continue to see CLAAS’ commitment to advanced technology, and research and development in the tractor product line.  We are certain that our Trans-Tasman customers will benefit from this investment and that CLAAS will continue to add to their range of world-class agricultural machinery”.    

The CLAAS Harsewinkel plant (combine harvesters, forage harvesters and Xerion tractors) will also be modernised with more automated systems soon.