Your partner to rely on. For the last 70 years

In 2017, STEYR looks back with pride. At a success story that began seven decades ago and that will continue into the future - with dependable models for every conceivable application, and ongoing innovations like S-TECH or the ECOTECH engine concept as well as STEYR Premium Service

Advertisement

STEYR is Austria´s Number One tractor brand. But it doesn´t stop there; the rest of Europe has been aware of the proverbial reliability of STEYR for a very long time. Increasing numbers of farmers and communities in Germany, Poland, Italy, Slovenia, Switzerland, Benelux and southern European countries have been placing their confidence in products made by the tractor manufacturer from St. Valentin. Behind this are innovations such as S-TECH or the revolutionary ECOTECH engine concept delivering great benefits in terms of efficiency and comfort. The modern design of these vehicles, and the well-populated dealer network matched with STEYR Premium Service, does the rest, ensuring that STEYR in 2017 is entitled to look back with pride, and to look to the future with confidence. Peter Friis, STEYR Marketing Director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa says, “STEYR can look back on a long history, especially in its home country of Austria, this is a brand that enjoys cult status. This arose through the reputation of these tractors for innovation and reliability. Today these criteria are still top-priority matters for STEYR”. 

1947 The beginning of an era

Page One of the STEYR success story opened on 29 September 1947. Leopold Haider, a farmer from Steinbach in the Steyr region took delivery of the very first STEYR tractor - the famous180- series model. A mere two years later, the now equally legendary 80-series was launched. No fewer than 45,000 of these tractors went on to be produced. This vehicle was one of the key ways that STEYR contributed to the development and modernisation of the Austrian agricultural sector.

The Sixties: A seamless line of innovations

Modernisation was the motto Expertise, practical solutions and technical innovations on a regular basis. From Day One, these were the brand's hallmarks. Also in the Sixties. In 1964, the first all- wheel drive tractor was unveiled, destined for work in Alpine farming environments. In 1966, 500 tractors were supplied to Thailand for the first time. One year later, STEYR unveiled its Plus series with direct fuel injection, delivering more efficient fuel economy.

The Seventies: International success

In 1971, the STEYR Plus series was extended to include the 760 model. More than 33,000 of this universal tractor  were produced, and many were exported - some to Tunisia. In 1973, STEYR got active in Greece and began to develop big tractors. The outcome was the 8160a, the first model with an exhaust turbocharger, a powershift transmission, central all-wheel drive and a scientifically inspired power transmission concept.

The Eighties: Efficient solutions

In 1982, STEYR presented its now legendary OptiStop all-wheel braking system. A few of the larger models were already equipped with fully electronic hitch control (EHR) with proportional control, electrically controllable auxiliary control units and the STEYR Infomat system. Back then, this driver information system cut fuel consumption by as much as 20 percent. While on the same subject: back in 1987 STEYR introduced the first tractor with fuel consumption of less than 200g/kWh, using the new HPCE combustion process.

The Nineties: Takeover by CASE

In 1968, STEYR was acquired by CASE Corporation, one of the world´s leading tractor manufacturers, and was renamed CASE-STEYR Landmaschinentechnik. In 1999, the STEYR CVT, its first tractor with continuously variable transmission, was unveiled. CVT is a technology that, even today, continues to deliver optimum working and ride comfort - particularly in the Profi CVT and the Terrus CVT models.

From 2000: Technology for the new millennium

In 2002, the St. Valentin plant achieved a new production record: it was the first year that the plantproduced more than 9,000 tractors. In 2003, STEYR unveiled its Profi series, followed shortly after by the Kompakt series. In February 2005, the 500,000th STEYR drove off the assembly line. In 2006, St. Valentin became the European head office of CASE IH and STEYR. Since that time, a workforce of more than 600 has been responsible for the continuing success of STEYR, making the company one of the largest employers in the region. In 2012, the STEYR Experience Center, a multimedia-based information, visitor and training centre, opened its doors to visitors, not only from the region, but from all over the world. In 2014, the St. Valentin manufacturing facility was awarded the title of Factory of the Year, and also went on to achieve WCM Silver Status (World Class Manufacturing).

Ideally equipped for the future

The current models demonstrate clearly that the success story of STEYR still has much further to run. STEYR fields a broad range of high-quality and modern tractors for farming, forestry, municipal operations and industry. These include the STEYR Kompakt, the Multi, the Profi, the CVT and the Terrus CVT, voted Vehicle of the Year 2016 at the Agritechnica trade fair. At the same time, STEYR Premium Service provides customers with support 365 days a year, assuring optimum performance from every tractor and minimising downtime periods. Spare parts are supplied within 24 hours while a Service Van attends to on-site maintenance work and to any repairs that may be required. STEYR PROTECT, a combination of service and maintenance contracts, provides all-round protection for up to five years, with regular product training courses and individual financing solutions, all doing their bit to ensure that STEYR remains the manufacturer of choice for farmers and communities - now and in the future. “Over the last 70 years, STEYR has set new standards in terms of quality and innovation, and has done so on a regular basis. Committed as we are to this tradition, in the coming decades, we intend to continue providing our customers with nothing less than the most dependable technology, combined with the highest standards of service support. And I am personally convinced that we shall succeed in doing that!” states STEYR Brand President Andreas Klauser.

STEYR Quest – the search for every STEYR model ever built

For its 70th anniversary, STEYR hit upon a novel idea. To pay homage to its own history, Facebook fans have been challenged, as part of a STEYR Quest, to find all 140 of the different models of the brand and to capture them in a photo. This task initially sounds simpler than it actually is. Those 140 models include special versions like the STEYR 8320 implement carrier and other models that were only produced in small numbers and that are therefore much harder to track down. Even now, the STEYR Quest is not yet over.