Japan's Kubota Showcases World’s First Hydrogen-Powered Self-Driving Tractor at World Expo 2025

Kubota, a Japan-based multinational corporation that manufactures tractors, agricultural machinery, and sustainable technology solutions, has unveiled the world’s first hydrogen fuel cell tractor with self-driving capabilities at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka. 

Designed to tackle two of agriculture’s biggest global challenges, decarbonisation and labour shortages, the machine combines zero-emission hydrogen power with AI-driven autonomous operation.

The 100-horsepower tractor runs on a fuel cell stack and can operate for nearly half a day per refueling, making it suitable for the long working hours required in farming. Measuring 4.4 meters in length, 2.2 meters in width, and 2.3 meters in height, the tractor features no driver’s seat and can instead be remotely controlled within network range.

Safety is reinforced through AI-powered cameras that detect people and obstacles, stopping the machine automatically if necessary. Remote operation and off-site monitoring allow farmers to manage tasks more efficiently, a crucial feature in Japan, where agriculture faces an aging workforce and dwindling labor supply.

Kubota’s innovation builds on its earlier fuel cell tractor prototype, unveiled last year, which offered 60 horsepower and four hours of operation after a quick 10-minute hydrogen refuel. That model used technology derived from Toyota’s Mirai fuel cell system and was successfully tested in real-world farm tasks.

Hydrogen fuel cells, which generate electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen and emit only water and heat, are emerging as a clean and reliable energy source. Advances in catalysts, membranes, and bipolar plates have further improved efficiency, durability, and performance, making them increasingly viable for heavy-duty applications.

Kubota confirmed it will soon begin field trials of the new tractor. “We will soon conduct a demonstration experiment and continue development towards practical application,” said Isamu Kazama, one of the company’s lead developers.

With higher power output, faster refueling, and longer uptime compared to battery-electric models, Kubota’s hydrogen-powered, AI-enabled tractor signals a bold step forward for sustainable and smart agriculture.