Kubota has announced the world’s first autonomous hydrogen-powered tractor, revealing the concept model at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan.

Unveiled at the “Hydrogen Energy Park!!” event running from 22-25 September, the company says its cutting-edge machine is designed to tackle two of agriculture’s biggest challenges – labour shortages and climate change.

Powered by a solid-polymer fuel cell and compressed hydrogen, the tractor delivers performance equivalent to a 100hp diesel engine, without producing emissions.

Its only byproducts are water vapour and heat.

See also: Hydrogen fuel key to decarbonising agriculture, says JCB boss

It can run for up to 12 hours on a single fill, with refuelling taking just minutes, offering a significant operational edge over battery-electric alternatives.

Kubota’s concept tractor combines advanced hydrogen technology with AI-driven autonomy.

This enables it to perform field tasks such as tillage and cultivation without a driver.

It is equipped with sensors and cameras for autonomous operation and can be remotely supervised or controlled when needed.

“This model is a concrete step towards next-generation agricultural machinery that balances productivity, sustainability and labour efficiency,” said a company statement.

Ageing workforce

Kubota is developing the technology in response to growing demand for decarbonised farming solutions and an ageing, shrinking rural workforce in Japan – a challenge faced worldwide.

The company plans to carry out field trials in Japan, focusing on verifying autonomous operation, hydrogen refuelling logistics, and suitability for daily agricultural tasks.

The bold, black-and-orange concept demonstrates Kubota’s broader push into hydrogen, alongside ongoing R&D in synthetic fuels and biofuels.

Though still in the concept phase, tractor enthusiasts say it represents a potential breakthrough in how large-scale farms may power their operations in the future.