Mumbai, Aug 10 : Automobile manufacturer Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) on Wednesday said it intends to play a pioneering role in development of “driverless” tractors.

“Tractors that operate autonomously could change the future of food production,” said Anand Mahindra, Chairman and Managing Director of Mahindra Group.

“This is an area where Mahindra, as the largest tractor producer in the world, intends to play a pioneering role.”

The chairman, while speaking at the 70th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the company, informed that everyone in the world is speculating whether conventional mobility companies will survive in a transformed environment.

“I am not an astrologer and can't provide guarantees on that score, but I did want to emphasize to you all today, that if anyone is preparing feverishly for a disruptive future of mobility, it is Mahindra,” he said.

The chairman further said that although the talk and speculation about autonomous “driverless” vehicles has accelerated, opinion is greatly divided about the imminence of such vehicles on global roads.

“And I also believe that the most fertile ground - pardon the pun- for autonomy is in agricultural tractors. This is something that has not been emphasised enough globally,” he added.

“This is an area where productivity increases are sorely needed to feed the growing needs of the world. It is also an area where paranoia about accidents and collisions is virtually non-existent.”