Is John Deere making a mistake with its autonomous RX9?
Bigger isn’t always better Earlier this year, John Deere made a bold move into autonomous farming by launching its heaviest tractor to date: the 9RX 830, an articulated behemoth delivering up to 913 hp. But is that really the smartest place to start?
At first glance, the strategy makes sense. If you’re a global leader in tractor innovation, why not showcase your autonomous ambitions through your flagship model? But autonomy isn’t about prestige. It’s about replacing labor, reducing costs, and increasing flexibility. And that’s exactly where real-world practice is starting to challenge the traditional logic of “bigger is better.”
Autonomy works best when multiple smaller machines collaborate – independently, reliably, and without operators. That’s where the true efficiency gains lie.
One Montana farmer proves the point
A telling example comes from grain grower Justin Yirsa in Montana, USA. After careful analysis, Yirsa opted for two cabless 120 hp tractors with standard implements, both retrofitted with autonomy kits from Sabanto. Together, they match the output of a large air seeder – but for less than half the capital investment. If one machine goes down, the other keeps running. And no drivers are needed – just one remote operator monitoring both units.
Autonomy takes root in Europe
This small-scale, scalable model isn’t just for North American farms. In the Netherlands, the NPPL (National Precision Farming Project) is currently trialing IQues retrofit kits that convert conventional tractors into autonomous machines.
The trend is clear. As shown in our Autonomous Retrofit Kits Catalogue, the market is shifting toward smaller, more flexible autonomous systems. Platforms like AgXeed are further reinforcing this move. These are not high-horsepower flagships – they’re lean, efficient field robots. No cabs. No prestige. Just productivity.
Less soil compaction, more flexibility
There’s also an agronomic bonus. While the massive RX9 can cause soil compaction under its own weight, smaller autonomous machines are far gentler on the soil – a critical concern as more farmers deal with compacted fields, limited water infiltration, and root zone damage.
The challengers rise
And then there’s the business model. Heavy tractors bring heavy margins – especially for OEMs. It’s no surprise that major manufacturers prioritize top-end machines. But players like Kubota and Yanmar, long specialized in smaller equipment, now see an opening. Their simple, reliable platforms make them well-suited to adopt and scale autonomous tech quickly.
Could it be that the traditional “compact-only” brands will outmaneuver the industry giants?
A strategic gamble?
So, is John Deere’s RX9 autonomy push a strategic leap – or a technical misstep?
Perhaps both. Because the future of autonomy may not be decided by the biggest tractor, but by the smartest combination of capacity, cost, and adaptability.
