General Leasing S.A., AGCO’s distributor for Massey Ferguson tractors and combines in Romania, opens a new branch in Podu Iloaiei, Iași County, following an investment of over 750.000 EUR

This investment is part of General Leasing’s extensive development plan that targets reaching an optimal level in regard to the capacity to cover the whole country with professional sales, service and spare parts solutions. The new branch in Podu Iloaiei is responsible for 6 counties from the eastern part of Romania (Suceava, Botoșani, Iași, Neamț, Vaslui and Bacău), a region with a very high agricultural potential.

With a total surface of almost 10000 sqm, the land is divided between a 3000 sqm outdoor machinery presentation and parking space up front, 6000 sqm currently used for logistics and possible future extension of the main building and the main construction with a total built surface of 535 sqm that is divided as follows:

• Workshop on 155 sqm that can fit the largest MF combine and the largest MF tractor at the same time
• Spare parts warehouse on 2 floors with a total surface of 160 sqm that can cover a couple of thousand items of the most requested spare parts, but also a couple of hundred items of the less requested parts
• Client relations offices on the ground floor together with a spare parts and promotional materials shop
• Conference room and offices on the 1st floor

The building plan has been analyzed and developed by General Leasing’s management together with the architect, focusing on providing a good flow between the workshop, spare parts warehouse, sales reps offices, accounting and showroom. The final result, which follows also the AGCO standards on dealership premises, will represent the model for all future branches that General Leasing will build in Romania.

These type of investments represent a guarantee for Massey Ferguson that their top quality products will be backed up by fast and reliable service and spare parts support and also, it strengthens the brand image of both the producer and the local importer. Moreover, such an investment provides the assurance for the farmer that he is dealing with a serious partner that is ready to put in the necessary resources to be closer to clients and to answer rapidly to any issue that might arise.

On 12th of June, 200 guests participated at the branch opening in Podu Iloaiei, most of them being farmers from the 6 counties surrounding the center, but also General Leasing’s partners from financing institutions, media, local administration and more. Amongst the invitees, Frederic Moreau, the Massey Ferguson Business Manager for Central Europe and the person who closely collaborated with General Leasing in the first 2 years after the partnership with AGCO was signed, took part at the event, stating: "This is a fantastic inauguration and shows the dedication and the commitment of the General Leasing team to grow the Massey Ferguson market share in Combines, Tractors, Telehandlers and Balers throughout Romania. This new branch will facilitate a better service to the farmers in the North East of Romania."

Currently, the new branch is supported by 11 people, managed by Cristian Pantea and even though 2015 is a very hard year because of the heavy draught in the region, he is confident that the sales will increase and the center will constantly be developed and that the team will grow to 16 members by the end of 2016.