Massey Ferguson Dealer Visit

Today I did one most of the interesting dealer visits I have ever done. I am a Field Service Manger for AGCO corporation, manufactures of the Massey Ferguson Farm Tractors. While walking in town I spotted this dealer lot. At first the security guard would not allow me to take pictures. He directed me to another office uptown where I could find the manager. I took the opportunity to introduce myself. We had a great visit. The company name is Entreposto Comercial and they have been the sole Massey dealer in Mozambique for over 50 years with five dealer locations. They stock about 100 tractors in country for sale. The also sell Challenger track tractors. There are eight Challengers in the country working in the sugar cane fields. Two new ones have recently been sold and are in transit from South Africa. Entreposto Comercial is a large corporation with the main office in Portugal. They also have Massey dealerships in Brazil and Portugal.  The main clients are the sugar cane companies but also have a lot of one tractor small farmers. Massey Ferguson owns the tractor market in Mozambique. John Deere sells here, but does not provide service or support. The main competition comes from cheap Chinese tractors.

The most popular model here is MF440 series. They prefer these because they are 100% mechanical and without electronics. (where have I heard this before?) The also sell the larger MF470 4WD.

Mozambique is on the move. Entreposto Comercial has plans to build a new ten story building on this lot within the year. The bottom floor will a show room and repair shops. The next three floors will be offices for rent and six floors of apartments. Entreposto Comercial is also the local dealer for Mercedes trucks and Toyota cars.

Jorge and I were talking about government regulations. In Mozambique, people drive on the left side of the road like in the UK. Mozambique for years has given an exemption allowing Freightliner Trucks to be import from the USA. Local trucking companies have imported hundreds of used Freightliners from the US. They are everywhere. Now the government has removed the exception and all trucks coming now must be right hand drive. All older trucks must be phased out within seven years. (Does this sound anything like CARB?)

Altogether it was a great visit. Jorge and I agreed to meet again later in the week for coffee. I did get a note complete with a stamp to allow me to return the lot and get these pictures.

Now I just need to talk to my boss and see if I can get credit for this dealer visit.