Abstract

The case is about India’s first electric tractor manufactured by Sonalika International Tractors Limited (Sonalika). The electric tractor heralded a new era in agri innovation in the country and was a technological marvel with high performance. The case discusses the growth of the company and its foray into the farm equipments sector. The case also details the history of tractor manufacturing in India. The innovative technological features of Tiger Electric are put forth and discussed. With its electric tractor, Sonalika embarked upon introducing efficient and pollution free tractors in the agriculture sector in the country. Sonalika’s product offensive strategy is described in detail along with its corporate social responsibility initiatives. The case ends with the future plans of the company. It remains to be seen whether the farmers in India adopt the electric tractor for their field operations and whether Sonalika’s ‘Tiger Electric’ becomes a disruptive innovation in the tractor industry in India.

Learning Objectives

The case is structured to achieve the following Learning Objectives:

• Analyze the difference between incremental innovation and disruptive innovation.
• Evaluate the relationship between sustainable development and technological innovation.
• Evaluate the concept of ‘product offensive strategy’.
• Analyze the importance and role of new technologies and companies in preventing global warming and environmental pollution.

Keywords

Tiger Electric; Sonalika; Electric Tractor; Disruptive Innovation; Technological Innovation; Sustainable Development; Product Offensive Strategy; Environmental Protection; Agri Innovation