World’s First Driverless, Hydrogen-Powered Tractor with Futuristic Design Unveiled

At World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Kubota introduced the world’s first hydrogen-powered, driverless tractor. This autonomous vehicle offers a solution to the labor shortage in agriculture with zero emissions and high efficiency.

The Japan-based agricultural equipment manufacturer, Kubota, has unveiled the world’s first autonomous, hydrogen fuel cell-powered tractor. The vehicle was showcased at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka. The company developed the new tractor to both reduce carbon emissions and address the labor shortage in agriculture.

The hydrogen tractor combines AI-powered autonomous driving technology with zero-emission hydrogen power. The 100-horsepower tractor can operate continuously for approximately half a day on a single charge, thanks to its fuel cell system. The tractor, which is 4.4 meters long, 2.2 meters wide, and 2.3 meters high, has no driver’s seat as all controls are managed remotely. Furthermore, with its AI-powered cameras, it can stop itself if it detects a person or an obstacle in the field.

A Clean Solution to Labor Shortages

The company had previously tested this technology in a manned prototype. The model, introduced last year, was 60 horsepower and could operate for four hours with three hydrogen tanks. It was even tested on real tasks like plowing fields. Although Kubota has announced that the new tractor will undergo field tests soon, information regarding its public release date or price has not yet been disclosed. The agricultural sector in Japan is facing a significant labor shortage, and solutions like this are crucial for other countries facing similar issues.

Hydrogen fuel cells generate electricity directly from the combination of hydrogen and oxygen, with only water and heat as byproducts. More durable catalysts, thinner membranes, and next-generation components are currently being developed, which are increasing the lifespan and efficiency of these systems.

At CES 2025 last January, Kubota showcased its hydrogen technology and electric farm equipment, hinting at autonomous operations for both agricultural and construction sites with its robotic solutions. The KATR agricultural robot could transport loads on its own and maintain balance on uneven terrain. The same event also featured an electric compact excavator and hydrogen generators.

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