Daedong selected for Korea's K-GX project to develop 55 kW autonomous electric tractor

South Korean agricultural machinery manufacturer Daedong has been selected for the K-GX green-transition programme to develop a 55 kW autonomous electric tractor and establish the production systems needed to manufacture it. Announced on 15 October, the project targets a multipurpose platform capable of autonomous tilling, crop spraying and other field work, with core technology development planned through 2027, manufacturing infrastructure and domestic and international field trials in 2028–29, and commercial introduction in 2030.

The proposed 74 hp-class tractor combines a single electric motor and continuously variable transmission with a battery designed for four to five hours of agricultural work. The company plans integrated thermal management for the motor, battery and inverter, plus a vehicle controller coordinating propulsion, energy systems and agricultural implements. An accompanying manufacturing plan includes autonomous mobile robots for materials transport, automated painting and work cells, fast charging and AI-based visual quality inspection. These specifications describe the development roadmap rather than measured performance of a finished 55 kW tractor.

Daedong already has an autonomy programme distinct from the new machine. It launched a vision-based Level 4 autonomous AI tractor in April 2026 and is planning a North American introduction in 2027, supported by agricultural-data MLOps and over-the-air software capabilities. The K-GX selection connects that autonomy work with a higher-power electric platform and a dedicated manufacturing plan.