There needs to be a degree of circumspection when approaching the subject of Zetor and its virtual disappearance from the market here in Ireland, for a previous article addressing the issue stirred a little dissatisfaction within the company.

This is quite understandable, as Zetor has a noble history and there is a great deal of pride behind the marque – a pride which is justified, for the company was busy building diesel engines for aeroplanes 90 years ago and that flare for engineering stayed with the company ever since.

Zetor Crystals — The Crystal was, in many ways, ahead of its time

While it might be common practice to consider Zetors cheap and cheerful imports from a backward eastern Europe, they were often ahead of their time and proved remarkably resilient to the abuse suffered at the hands of disinterested owners.

If the Ferguson FE with its three point linkage is considered to be the tractor that has had the greatest influence on Irish agriculture, then there is a case for the Zetor Crystal being second on that list.

Contractors’ tool

It was the Crystal that kick-started many contractors’ businesses, who appreciated a powerful tractor for its time, with a four-wheel drive, a safety cab with a passenger seat, air compressor, two speed power takeoff (PTO). and all available on farm at a price that severely undercut the Anglo-American competition.

That was back in 1972. If you had gone along to a mainstream dealer at the time, the choice would have been between a Ford 7000 or MF 185, both of which might have been built on this side of the Iron Curtain but possessed none of the virtues listed above.

12045 model — 120hp was a big tractor when the Zetor 12045 was launched back in 1974

Little wonder that so much misinformation was put about concerning Zetor build quality and reliability, neither of which turned out to be a major issue and both of which affected western brands as well.

Ford, for instance, felt it prudent to relaunch its 6X range as the 6Y models in 1968, although that was as much due to design as it was manufacturing issues.

Zetor in Ireland

Fast-forward to today and, while the blue of Ford lives on with New Holland, and Massey Ferguson, International, John Deere. etc., continue to enjoy success, it is difficult to know where to go if looking for a Zetor.

Yes, there are a couple of dealers still flying the flag but it is a far cry from having one in nearly every other town, which was the situation 15-20 years ago.

Zetor at ploughing match — The Zetor stand at the 2022 Ploughing Championships was a statement of faith in the company

And what of the company itself? Who actually owns and manages it, what is its background, and how is Zetor now being developed?

Today the company is owned by HTC Holdings, an investment company based in Slovakia, which was formed in 1998 to identify and manage opportunities within the IT sector.

It describes its business as now encompassing agricultural, automotive, railway, textile, energy, and aerospace industries, which has grown to now have a presence in several countries in Europe and North America, as well as India.

Turkish rival

HTC acquired Zetor in 2002 after winning a bidding war against the Turkish manufacturer Uzel Makina, a close shave for Zetor as disputes within the Uzel family are said to have led to its bankruptcy in 2012.

Yet this was not the first attempt by the Czech government to offload Zetor.

In 1998, Motokov, the main distributor for Zetor, proposed buying a controlling 34% of the company but this appears to have foundered due to Motokov not having the resources to develop the tractors.

Front axle suspension — Throughout the years Zetor kept up to date with its engineering and design

On the other hand, HTC Holdings were reported to have purchased 97.7% of the company shares from the Czech government in 2002 for a price of $9.13m, taking on Zetor’s debt of around $117m at the same time – a heavy burden for a company that produced just 3,500 tractors in 2001.

Despite this debt level exceeding HTC’s income for that same year, the investment company pledged to plough further sums into Zetor, and new models were promised as was the entry into the 175hp+ segment.

Sales on the up

For a while sales did improve, reaching 4,178 units in 2014, yet since then there has been a steady decline, with 1,026 units being sold in 2023, down from 1,743 in 2022,

In 2024, the company management decided to close the production of both engines and transmissions in Brno, buying them in from Germany and Italy instead.

The VST Zetor range of tractors utilises Zetor know-how and Indian manufacturing methods

However, while it was confirmed that the factory would stay open to produce tractors for the European and US markets, no mention was made of India, where there has been some activity in conjunction with VST Tiller Tractors Ltd.

VST are leaders in pedestrian cultivators, which has a production capacity of 60,000 units at its Malur Facility, yet it also has a factory at Hosur for small tractors which can produce 40,000 machines annually.

Although it appears that there is no financial tie-in, the Indian company is utilising Zetor technology in its product range and the tractors are being sold under the VST Zetor label in India.

Military vehicles by Zetor

Back in Slovakia, HTC has formed Zetor Engineering, a design and consultancy company that is a subsidiary of Zetor Engineering CZ .

Both have been involved in the design of an armoured fighting vehicle known as the Gerlach 4X4.

Gerlach by Zetor — The Gerlach is to be produced in Slovakia by Zetor Engineering

HTC Holdings appear to be in rude health health but its tractor-making subsidiary is reported as being in difficulty with a large debt and poor sales.

Yet, the name lives on tractor bonnets, in India at least, and will continue to adorn off-road vehicles of a different sort.

Contractors’ tool

Zetor in Ireland

Turkish rival

Sales on the up

Military vehicles by Zetor

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Crystal

Whatever has happened to Zetor in recent years?