Kubota Unveils World’s First Driverless Hydrogen Fuel Cell Tractor at Expo 2025 Osaka. What It Means for India’s Agriculture

Osaka, Japan – At Expo 2025 Osaka, Japanese farm equipment leader Kubota Corporation introduced a global first: the driverless hydrogen fuel cell tractor. This breakthrough combines automation and green hydrogen technology, signaling a new era of sustainable farming technology. For India, an agricultural economy at the heart of global food security, the innovation opens conversations about climate-smart farming, automation, and the future of rural livelihoods.

A New Milestone in Green Agricultural Machinery

Kubota’s concept tractor is hydrogen-powered, fully autonomous, and built without a driver’s seat. With an output of 100 horsepower, it can be remotely controlled or operate driverless within a defined area. On a single hydrogen refill, it runs for half a day, producing zero emissions—its only byproduct is water.

This hydrogen-powered machine directly addresses two pressing challenges in agriculture:

• Climate Change: By eliminating diesel use, the Kubota hydrogen tractor reduces greenhouse gas emissions and supports the shift toward green hydrogen farming in India.

• Rural Labor Shortages: The driverless tractor provides a solution for declining farm labor, a challenge faced by both Japan and India.

  
  

Why the Kubota Hydrogen Tractor Matters for India

India contributes 18% to its GDP from agriculture, employing nearly 120 million farmers. Yet, it faces issues of productivity, rising input costs, and environmental pressures. The Kubota driverless hydrogen fuel cell tractor could play a transformative role in addressing these challenges:

1. Decarbonizing Indian Agriculture: Farming in India accounts for 14% of total greenhouse gas emissions, largely from diesel-powered tractors. Hydrogen-powered tractors align with the National Hydrogen Mission and India’s net-zero 2070 goals, making green hydrogen farming in India a realistic future.

   
   

2. Solving Rural Labor Challenges: Rural-to-urban migration has created a shortage of agricultural workers. Autonomous machinery such as the driverless tractor in India could allow farmers to manage larger landholdings efficiently, particularly in mechanized states like Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.

   
   

3. Improving Productivity with Smart Technology: The integration of AI and IoT with sustainable farming technology ensures precision in irrigation, fertilizer use, and crop monitoring—key needs for India’s resource-stressed agriculture.

   
   

Opportunities and Barriers for India

While the innovation is groundbreaking, adoption in India will hinge on critical factors:

• Cost and Accessibility: Small and marginal farmers make up 86% of Indian agriculture. Affordable financing, subsidies, or cooperative models will be essential for access to Kubota’s hydrogen tractor in India.

  
  

• Infrastructure Readiness: Hydrogen refueling networks in India are still at a nascent stage. Scaling green hydrogen farming in India will require parallel investments in rural infrastructure.

  
  

• Policy and International Partnerships: Indo-Japan agricultural cooperation could provide pathways for pilots and technology transfers, supported by JICA, JETRO, and bilateral innovation platforms.

  
  

Looking Ahead

India has already experimented with electric tractors, drone technology, and smart irrigation systems. The unveiling of Kubota’s hydrogen fuel cell driverless tractor points toward the next frontier of mechanization. If India adopts this innovation strategically, it could lead to:

• A climate-smart agriculture sector aligned with sustainability goals.

• Higher productivity and lower emissions, helping farmers earn more.

• Leadership in sustainable farming technology, inspiring other emerging economies.

  
  

Finally

Kubota’s innovation is more than just a tractor—it’s a vision of the future of farming. For India, the driverless hydrogen tractor could mark a shift toward sustainable farming technology, addressing climate goals and rural labor challenges simultaneously. With the right mix of policy support, infrastructure development, and Indo-Japan agricultural cooperation, India can turn this futuristic concept into a practical tool that empowers farmers and drives the green transformation of agriculture.