Daedong selected for K-GX national project, to develop AI-powered electric tractors

[Financial News] Daedong is stepping up efforts to develop next-generation tractors that combine the electrification of farm machinery with artificial intelligence (AI) autonomous-driving technology. The company plans to take part in the government’s Korea Green Transformation (K-GX) project, commercialize AI-powered electric tractors by 2030, and establish a mass-production system. Its aim is to shift from conventional diesel-powered farm machinery to eco-friendly equipment for autonomous farming, while addressing the aging rural population and labor shortages.
 According to industry sources on the 15th, Daedong’s multipurpose AI electric tractor development project has been selected as a K-GX Signature Project. 
 K-GX is a national strategy to advance carbon neutrality and economic growth together. Over the next 10 years, the government plans to invest a total of 1,000 trillion won, including 200 trillion won in public funding and at least 790 trillion won in climate finance. Daedong will participate in the farm machinery electrification sector.
 Daedong will focus on developing a 55-kW-class (approximately 74-horsepower) multipurpose electric tractor under the project. The goal is to develop farm machinery capable of autonomously performing tasks such as plowing and crop spraying in a range of agricultural settings, including orchards. The company plans to advance core technologies by 2027, build production infrastructure and conduct field trials in Korea and overseas in 2028–2029, and commercialize the tractor in 2030.
 The development plan includes using an electric drivetrain that combines a battery pack capable of powering 4–5 hours of operation with a single motor and a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The tractor will also feature a thermal management system that jointly manages the battery, motor, and inverter, as well as a vehicle control unit (VCU) that controls power, the drivetrain, and implements. The aim is to combine AI autonomous-driving technology with implement-control technology so the tractor can perform a variety of agricultural tasks.
 Daedong will also lay the groundwork for mass production. By 2030, the company plans to automate electric tractor production and quality-control processes using autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) for transport, work robots, fast-charging equipment, AI vision inspection systems, and other technologies.
 Daedong launched a Level 4 autonomous-driving tractor powered by vision AI this past April and plans to introduce it to the North American market next year. The company has also developed a machine-learning operations (MLOps) system based on agricultural work data to enhance the AI tractor’s capabilities, as well as over-the-air (OTA) software update technology. It continues to develop related technologies with the goal of commercializing AI-powered electric and autonomous tractors by 2030.
 The electric tractor is expected to help reduce fossil-fuel use in farm machinery and address the aging rural population and labor shortages through autonomous-farming technology. 
 Daedong CEO Won Yoo-hyun said, “Daedong has been building the technological foundation needed for greater autonomy and electrification in agriculture,” adding, “With this K-GX project as a catalyst, we will increase investment from technology development through manufacturing and commercialization, and drive the eco-friendly transition of domestic agriculture.” 

[email protected] Lee Ju-mi Reporter