 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

A further five manufacturers(Auto Tractors, Haryana Tractors, United Auto Tractors, Asian Tractors, VST Tillers) began production during this period but only Last one survived in the increasingly competitive market place.Annual production exceeded 75,000 units by 1985 and reached 140,000 in 1990 when the total in use was about 1.2 million.Then India - a net importer up to the mid-seventies - became an exporter in the 1980s mainly to countries in Africa.