Kubota presents the M7004 Autonomous tractor concept, designed to maintain productivity amid labor shortages, while meeting growing sustainability demands. The M7004 Autonomous is a next step towards smart automation.
Across Europe, farmers are facing growing labor shortages, especially during peak planting and harvest periods. Rising costs and stricter sustainability requirements are also increasing the demand for smarter, more efficient machinery. Many farms rely on large, high-horsepower tractors to get work done quickly, but these can drive up fuel use, soil compaction, and overall costs. To stay profitable, farmers need technology that maximises efficiency while reducing reliance on heavy machinery and additional labour.
Building on the trusted M7004 KVT platform with Tractor Implement Management (TIM) technology and an integrated autonomous kit, the M7004 Autonomous lets a single operator extend working hours, reduce reliance on temporary labor, and optimize field efficiency. By pairing smaller, lighter implements with intelligent automation, farms can shift from 250–300 hp tractors to 150–175 hp models, hence cutting costs while increasing versatility. In most conditions, around 80 percent of fieldwork can be carried out autonomously, with only headlands or complex areas requiring manual control to maintain safety and precision.
High precision
The M7004 Autonomous operates within a structured, easy to manage workflow. Field boundaries and obstacles are first mapped by a certified surveyor, followed by independent creation of tractor and implement profiles. Using Kubota’s PAM platform, operators then define A–B lines, passes and start or end points. The mission is uploaded to the tractor, which performs work autonomously under remote supervision. This approach allows farmers to move seamlessly between manual and autonomous modes while maintaining full safety oversight.
Safety is at the heart of the M7004 Autonomous. The retrofit kit transforms M7004 KVT tractors with a full suite of sensors, vision systems, and control modules. High-precision GNSS navigation guides the tractor, while LiDAR sensors on both sides of the cab detect obstacles in real time. Clovis, Caïus, and Cleos modules manage vision and safety, supported by cameras and warning lights to enhance monitoring and visibility. Implements are registered via CLEOS ECU modules, which record geometry, working width, and headland sequences to ensure safe, compatible connections.
Kubota and Kverneland implements integrate directly, while competitor equipment can be configured through standalone CLEOS modules, giving farms full flexibility for mixed fleets.
Reduced costs
The benefits are immediate and measurable. Smaller, lighter equipment combinations reduce mechanization costs per hectare. Extended operating hours boost productivity without adding labor, and reduced soil compaction helps protect long-term soil health. Precision, safety, and flexibility are enhanced, particularly on mixed and arable farms of 200–600 hectares. By automating repetitive fieldwork while keeping manual control for complex areas, the M7004 Autonomous delivers a smart, safe, and sustainable approach to modern farming.
By combining trusted performance with intelligent automation, the tractor transforms how fields are managed, empowering farmers to achieve more with precision and confidence. Proof-of-concept trials in 2025 and ongoing field validation into 2026 will continue to refine its capabilities and expand its versatility.
