of India). Escorts Ltd. began local manufacture of Ford tractors in 1971 in collaboration with Ford, UK and total production climbed steadily to 33,000 in 1975-76 1981 to 1990 A further five manufacturers(Auto Tractors, Haryana Tractors, United Auto Tractors, Asian Tractors, and VST Tillers) began production during this period but only VST has survived in the increasingly competitive marketplace. Annual production exceeded 75,000 units by 1985 and reached 140,000 in 1990 when the total in use was about 1.2 million. Than India - a net importer up to the mid-seventies - became an exporter in the 1980s mainly to countries in Africa. 1991 to 1997 Since 1992, it has not been necessary to obtain an industrial license for tractor manufacture in India. By 1997 annual production exceeded 255,000 units and the national tractor population had passed the two million mark. India now emerged as one of the world leaders in wheeled tractor production. 1997 to 1999 Five new manufacturers started production in this period. In 1998 Bajaj Tempo, later renamed Force Motors, began tractor production in Pune. In April of the same year New Holland Tractor (India) Ltd launched production of 70 hp tractors with matching equipment by investing $US 75 million in a state-of-the-art plant at Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh state with an initial capacity of 35000 units per year. Also during this time, Larsen and Toubro established a joint venture with John Deere of the United States, for the manufacture of 35-65 hp tractors at a plant in Pune, Maharashtra. And Greeves Ltd began producing tractors under similar arrangements with Deutz-Fahr of Italy. Captain Tractors has rolled out first indigenous Mini Tractor of 9.5 hp for small and marginal farmers. CASE now Case IH looking to develop a joint venture in India went into discussions with various Indian companies and in 1999 settled with New Holland Pvt Ltd. India for manufacturing CASE brand tractors and harvesting equipment at New Holland's facility. 1999 to present Facing market saturation in the traditional markets of the north west (Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh) tractors sales began a slow and slight decline. By 2002 sales went below 200,000. Manufacturers expanded into eastern and southern India markets in an attempt to reverse the decline, and began exploring the potential for overseas markets. In 2013, India produced 619,000 tractors accounting for 29% of world's output. It is the world's largest producer and market