CASE IH and STEYR are undergoing a territorial realignment in northwestern Germany, with Lankhorst Landtechnik assuming sales responsibilities previously handled by Kotte Landtechnik. The transition affects customer coverage in parts of Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia and introduces a revised division of responsibilities between the two dealerships. While Lankhorst becomes the principal commercial contact for the brands in the affected territory, Kotte will retain a role in aftersales support, ensuring that existing customers continue to have access to technical assistance and established service relationships.
The arrangement separates new machinery sales from certain aftersales activities, illustrating how agricultural equipment manufacturers and their distribution partners can adjust territorial coverage without necessarily dismantling existing service infrastructure. For farmers and contractors, the distinction matters: purchasing relationships may change, while maintenance requirements, spare parts availability and technical support continue to depend on local service capabilities. The effectiveness of the transition will therefore be determined not only by sales coverage but also by the continuity and coordination of customer support.
From an industry perspective, the development highlights the ongoing importance of dealer network configuration in agricultural machinery markets. Manufacturers face the challenge of maintaining sufficient geographic coverage while supporting dealerships capable of financing inventory, investing in specialist personnel and delivering increasingly complex technical services. The Lankhorst–Kotte arrangement provides an example of how commercial responsibilities can be redistributed while preserving selected elements of the existing customer support network.
Bottom Line: The CASE IH and STEYR realignment in northwestern Germany illustrates a dealer network adjustment built around differentiated sales and service responsibilities. Its significance lies in the attempt to reorganize commercial coverage without sacrificing local aftersales continuity.
