CLAAS continues to invest in its Le Mans plant

Since 2003, CLAAS has invested more than 80 million euros in the expansion and modernisation of its tractor production site in Le Mans. Construction of a new multimodal building, where components for new tractors will eventually be manufactured, is currently under way. In the meantime, production of the AXION 9 CMATIC, unveiled at the Agritechnica trade show, began in February 2026.

Since the acquisition of the tractor plant in Le Mans, France, in 2003, more than 200 000 CLAAS tractors have been produced there. The power, weight and diversity of the tractors produced have increased considerably over this period, while digitalisation and artificial intelligence have opened up new possibilities for production planning. Continuous technological progress in tractor development and manufacturing requires constant adaptations and modernisation in areas such as plant infrastructure, in order to produce tractors for the global market efficiently and with a high level of sustainability, meeting the highest quality standards. ?The tractor segment has the greatest growth potential for CLAAS and our business partners,? stresses Martin von Hoyningen-Huene, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Executive Vice President of the Tractors & Implements division. ?That is why the Le Mans site, as the heart of our global Tractors division, will play a more strategic role than ever within the CLAAS Group.?

To date, CLAAS has invested more than 80 million euros in the Le Mans site and the nearby test and validation centre in Trangé. Important milestones include the installation of a new cab pre-assembly line and a new paint system between 2008 and 2010, as well as the complete modernisation of the assembly line, including digital transformation, between 2019 and 2021, which saw the first introduction of automated guided vehicles (AGVs) in the plant. State-of-the-art, bright and ergonomic workstations, equipped with numerous lifting devices and cobots, now guarantee optimal working conditions for employees in the production areas.

In 2022, a new central academy dedicated to tractor training was inaugurated and, the following year, a new visitor reception centre, the Technoparc, was built. Most recently, in July 2025, ground was broken for the construction of a 3 800 m² multimodal building.

In February 2026, series production of the new AXION 9 CMATIC began. Series production of the new ARION 6.190 CMATIC will follow in May 2026.

In February 2026, production of the all-new, internationally award-winning AXION 9 CMATIC tractor began. Another new tractor, the ARION 6.190 CMATIC, will follow in May 2026.

Growth through innovation: production of the new tractor generations since January
Thanks to continuous, forward-looking strategic investments, the Le Mans plant is today one of the most modern tractor production sites in the world and was therefore perfectly prepared for the launch of the new AXION CMATIC and ARION CMATIC generations. The all-new high-horsepower AXION 9 CMATIC tractors, including the AXION 9.450 TERRA TRAC, voted Tractor of the Year 2026 in the High Power category, have already successfully completed production and are currently being delivered to customers and business partners. The new ARION 6.190 CMATIC, also presented at Agritechnica last year, will follow three months later, in May.

Alongside the start of production of the new AXION 9 CMATIC, more than 1 300 customers from 20 countries were able to discover the new tractors and the state-of-the-art production facilities at a series of exclusive events held at the Le Mans site between January and March 2026. ?The extremely positive feedback shows that we are on the right track with our tractors, our connected digital solutions and our strong focus on customers and tractor drivers,? sums up Dr Martin von Hoyningen-Huene. ?Many requests and suggestions from farmers and contractors around the world have been taken into account and implemented in the development of the new AXION 9 and ARION 6.190 CMATIC tractors, just as we will do for other new products coming in the near or more distant future.?