Combines new lexion combines

[dakota]

I don't think we're going to get any lexions, the way Claas is acting.

 

[Big_Green]

Have the lexions been reliableIJ Are you going back to john deereIJ Thanks for any info. I would like to learn some about the lexions i do not know much about them. Are you done with harvestIJ

 

[Big_Green]

What is your website do you have any new pics on thereIJ

 

[dakota]

If you want to learn about lexion, why don't you get yourself one and find outIJ But you might have to hurry or Claas might be gone. Their service people have left already.

 

[Ed_Boysun]

That's a pretty telling comment. I've been waiting to see if your experience with the lexion was any different than my neighbor's. So far, it doesn't seem like it. My son asked me a good question this fall: If you were going to buy a new combine, and it couldn't be a Gleaner, what would it beIJ My answer was a TR-99. What I'm hearing and seeing about the new "bumble-bee" I'm not so sure anymore about the CNH machines either. Where are you looking for your next machineIJ Ed in Montana

 

[nod]

Well there sure are mixed signals being given out then. Just several days ago there was a national meeting for the Cat_lexion dealers. What was said is that Claas is not going anywhere. They have went through several joint ventures with the partner pulling out not Claas. Claas sells more combines total throughout the world then anyone else and it is their goal to be the largest seller in the United States as well. An example was given, 5 years ago Claas had 5% of the forage harvester sales in the US. Today it is 65%. Claas has deep pockets and will do what ever it takes to achieve their goal. They stated that Claas will be the largest selling combine in the US, no matter what, even if they lose money in the short term to achive their goal. They sure make it sound like they are commited.

 

[UpFr]

I recall Cat and Claas entering into a "Joint Venture". I'm not a lawyer, but I think structuring a business relationship this way allows both parties to enter into agreement to proceed with a project that might have a limited scope of time. Caterpillar elected to return their focus to construction_industrial products and back out of ag. The Cat dealers had the option to continue to offer the lexion with Cat branding or back off, too. If Claas truly wants to be a major player in North America, they will likely continue to explore and pump money into this. If they elect not to continue, then I'm sure they will quickly back out. My money's on them continuing to participate in the North American marketplace for the long term. Merry Christmas to all... and to all a Good Night!

 

[dakota]

Have you been at this meetingIJ The chopper market is a lot different and no comparison. How many farmers own choppers, how many own combinesIJ How many colors of choppers are sold in the USIJ When Claas stepped in, the only competitor, JD, had a poor chopper. It was easy to get market share. The Deere chopper was so bad, that some custom harvesters built their own. I know them and have seen their choppers. Combines is a whole different ball game. We have many well established combine colors in the US, some with lots of dealerships and harvester support vans. The crops running through a chopper a very similar in Europe and America. There is actually more chopping done in Europe. But the combined crops in America are a lot more diversified, we put a lot more hours on our machines and have very different conditions. Claas has just started to learn. And as we all know they had many failed attempts before in history to sell combines in America.

 

[Darren]

Hey Dakota - Are you close to giving us report on the lexion's like you did with the JD STS's last yearIJIJIJIJ

 

[Chuckm]

I am not trying to be confrontational, but between my business travel and my sons' hockey, I drive extensively through KS, NE, MO, IA and Il and I saw my first Claas chopper just three weeks ago in the Des Moines area. 65%IJ I find that to be a little hard to believe.