CLAAS Expands North American Presence

CLAAS Expands Dealer Network in Florida, Georgia

In response to increasing market demand, CLAAS of America is expanding its dealer footprint in Florida and Georgia with the addition of its newest dealer, AIMSOUTH, headquartered in Trenton, Florida.

Along with the AIMSOUTH Trenton location, five additional sites in Georgia will be equipped to provide parts and service for all CLAAS products as well as sales of selected hay and forage products.

“Our new partner has built their business on a foundation of local market knowledge and after-sales support with a lengthy history of practical experience in this market,” said Christopher Gittens, Vice President Dealer Development. “These are important markets for CLAAS. This expansion ensures that CLAAS customers in the Georgia and north Florida regions continue to receive the superior support they deserve by having full-service CLAAS sales, parts and service providers nearby.”

CLAAS Announces Dealership Plans in Texas and Delta Regions

After a lengthy partnership in Texas and the Western Delta region, CLAAS and Holt AgriBusiness will end their distribution agreement. In the interim, CLAAS has put plans in place to ensure that customers in the region will experience little to no disruption of service or support.

“Texas and the Western Delta are important regions for CLAAS. It is our number-one priority to ensure that our customers in those areas continue to have best-in-class support for their best-in-class equipment,” explained G. Eric Raby, President and General Manager – Sales for CLAAS of America.

To that end, CLAAS is working diligently to finalize plans and announce new dealer locations in the area. Holt AgriBusiness will continue to provide parts and service for CLAAS customers in the region throughout the transition. “Our new dealer appointment process is underway and, when completed, will give our customers new service and sales providers in the region that will not only champion our LEXION combines, JAGUAR forage harvesters and CLAAS balers and hay tools, but also represent our high-horsepower XERION tractor range,” said Raby.

In a letter to customers, CLAAS stated, “From our recently expanded North American Parts and Logistics Center, to a dynamically growing dealer network with exciting new equipment lines, it’s an excellent time to be a part of the CLAAS family. We appreciate your business and thank you for your loyalty and patience as we work diligently to complete this transition.” CLAAS customers were also given direct contact details for Jason Hahn, the CLAAS Regional Program Manager in the area, for questions about dealership changes and service inquiries. Any other questions should be directed to CLAAS Dealer Development at 402-861-1000.

CLAAS and BayWa to partner in Canada

BayWa AG, Munich, one of the leading international trading and services groups in agriculture and CLAAS, Harsewinkel, the international agricultural machinery manufacturer, announced their intentions to begin cooperatiing in Canada. The partnership will focus on growing the business for CLAAS products in the province of Alberta.

BayWa and CLAAS plan to enhance the dealer presence in the region. The initial new location will open later this year as the first phase of the cooperation. The move, part of the BayWa’s internationalization strategy with CLAAS, will ensure that customers in the western Canadian market area receive superior support from BayWa as a flagship dealer who already has many years of experience with the complete CLAAS long line product range in Europe. BayWa currently operates multiple full-service locations in Germany.

“For BayWa, this cooperation in Canada is perfectly in line with our internationalization strategy. In addition to our grain trading and fruit business, BayWa can now take a step into a new market to achieve a more diversified international business, also in the agricultural equipment business area,” explained Klaus Josef Lutz, Chief Executive Officer of BayWa AG. Canada is the third international market BayWa is entering with its agricultural equipment business within the last two years.

“CLAAS is a great brand that is well established in the Canadian market. We are experienced with the CLAAS product range within an established market environment and we therefore know how to address the customers’ needs to be successful,” says Roland Schuler, member of BayWa’s Board of Management and responsible for Agri Services.

“Canada is an important market for CLAAS and we have ambitious targets to keep moving forward. We recently opened a Parts and Logistics Centre in Regina and are now taking additional measures to ensure our dealer network throughout the country is providing excellence in service to their customers,” explained Jan-Hendrik Mohr, member of the CLAAS Group Executive Board and responsible for Sales and Marketing. “I am delighted that we are able to add BayWa to our list of partners in Canada and fully expect substantial and sustainable growth as our partnership grows even further.”

CLAAS and BayWa are now working to set up an organizational infrastructure for their cooperation and also to establish the logistics and service network prior to the opening of the initial new location in Alberta later this year.