MOLINE - Deere & Co. said today it has completed all legal requirements to form a joint venture in India between its Worldwide Construction & Forestry Division and Ashok Leyland Ltd., the flagship of the Hinduja Group.

The venture will be named Ashok Leyland John Deere Construction Equipment Co. Private Ltd. and will initially manufacture backhoes and four-wheel-drive loaders.

It also will market backhoes, four-wheel-drive loaders and excavators that will be sold in India and exported to other markets, with plans to provide a full line of construction equipment in future years.

The definitive agreement to form the joint venture was first announced in September 2008.

Financial terms have not been disclosed.

Ashok Leyland has a broad dealer network throughout India and is the second largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles in that country.