Daedong rolls out AI tractor test drives at 29 dealers

Recap

Source: 로봇신문, report of Oct. 6, 2026

According to the report, Daedong has launched a nationwide test-drive program for its AI tractors, the HX1400 AI and HX1200 AI, at 29 authorized dealerships. The company says the initiative is designed to let farmers directly experience the autonomous work technology and assess its applicability to their specific farming environments. The program is free, runs through the end of the year, and can be booked via Daedong's website or customer service center, with regional centers coordinating individual schedules.

Daedong explains that while traditional farm equipment choices hinge on horsepower and convenience features, AI tractors require users to evaluate path-setting, autonomous driving methods, and the level of driver intervention. To address this, the company is moving beyond product descriptions and videos to provide hands-on operational experience. The tractors, launched in April and designated as new-technology agricultural machinery by the Rural Development Administration, use six cameras for vision AI and precise positioning to support four levels of autonomous work. They also feature an 'A-Motion easy mode' that allows users to set straight, curved, or bearing-based paths without complex configuration.

Context

Daedong is a major South Korean agricultural machinery manufacturer that has been pushing into the autonomous farming segment. The designation by the Rural Development Administration (RDA) is a significant regulatory milestone in Korea, as it certifies the technology's safety and innovation for agricultural use. This test-drive strategy reflects a broader trend in the ag-tech industry where manufacturers are shifting from spec-sheet marketing to experiential sales, recognizing that autonomous systems require user trust and familiarity with their operational logic.

Robot's take

This move signals that Daedong is prioritizing user adoption over pure hardware sales, acknowledging that the value of an AI tractor lies in its workflow integration rather than just its specs. The focus on 'A-Motion easy mode' suggests an effort to lower the technical barrier for farmers who may not be comfortable with complex programming. However, the success of this program will depend on whether the autonomous features can reliably handle the varied and often unstructured conditions of real-world farms. It remains to be seen if this hands-on approach will significantly accelerate the market penetration of autonomous tractors in South Korea.