LS Mtron, the industrial machinery affiliate of South Korea’s LS Group that is aiming to bump up its global sales, was once again named the No. 1 tractor brand among North American dealers.

The Korean company said Wednesday it was awarded the 2018 Equipment Dealers Association (EDA) Dealer’s Choice Award in the tractor category.

“We’re the first tractor maker in the world to top the customer rating charts in the region for four straight years,” the company claimed.

Founded in 1990, EDA represents approximately 4,500 retail dealerships involved in the sale and service of agricultural, construction and industrial equipment in North America. The award was based on a survey of 2,224 dealers across the country in which 56 manufacturers were rated on 11 factors.

LS Mtron scored 6.15 out of 7 in overall satisfaction, far above the average of 5.55 and outperforming other top-tier names including Kubota (5.78), John Deere (5.34), Agco (5.11), and Case IH (4.32).

“We will accelerate our efforts to expand our reach in the global market,” said an official from LS Mtron, adding that the company aims to reach 2 trillion won ($1.81 billion) in sales by 2023.

LS Mtron saw its annual tractor sales, which started off as 160 billion won in its founding year of 2008, surge to 580 billion won in 2017. Global sales in the same period jumped nearly tenfold, from 42 billion won to 400 billion won.

The company has its domestic plants in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, and has been rapidly broadening its overseas network, setting up a U.S. sales entity in 2009, a Chinese plant in 2010, and a Brazilian plant in 2013.

By Hwang Soon-min and Kim Hyo-jin

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