According to an Oct. 26 report from Nikkei Asia, Kubota will launch retrofit kits to create autonomous tractors in Japan by the end of 2022. The technology will reportedly be manufactured by AgJunction, which Kubota announced it would acquire in October 2021.

The retrofit kit was described as consisting of "a smart antenna along with a steering wheel correction device." The retrofit kits will cost around 1.65 million yen ($11,131).

"Although the retrofit kits will cut into sales of higher-priced tractors, Kubota sees the need to gain expertise in assessing and solving problems that arise as automation progresses. The company will apply this know-how toward research and development in the field," the report said.

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