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An unknown agricultural machinery manufacturer in Europe has developed its first 400-horsepower tractor with hybrid drive. Behind the brand is a huge conglomerate from Asia. Should Fendt and John Deere prepare for competition?
Agricultural machinery companies like John Deere and AGCO are well-known in Europe for their strong brands. The Chinese conglomerate Zoomlion is only known by a few farmers and contractors. However, this could change in the coming years. The state-owned company is not only one of the world's largest machinery manufacturers but has now introduced its first 400-horsepower tractor. What sets it apart is that this large tractor operates with a hybrid drive. Let's delve into the details.
The Chinese brand Zoomlion may ring a bell for some farmers who attended Agritechca 2015. Back then, the agricultural technology brand showcased a standard tractor with 160 horsepower and a Deutz engine (tractors from China for the European market). Zoomlion not only manufactures cranes, excavators, and concrete pumps but also produces tractors, balers, rice and grain harvesters, and other agricultural machinery in its agricultural division.
According to their own statements, Zoomlion's first hybrid tractor rolled off the production line in Kaifeng in the Henan province of East China earlier this year. The Zoomlion DV4004 is a standard 400-horsepower tractor. However, there is limited technical data available on the tractor at the moment.
The hybrid tractor is partially mechanically driven but also incorporates multiple motors, likely electric motors for auxiliary functions. While Zoomlion hasn't provided further details on the drive system, the tractor is expected to operate with a diesel engine and a generator. No specifics are known about the emissions standard it meets.
Photos depict the tractor equipped with Trelleborg tires. It is said to achieve a pulling force equivalent to 14.5 tons and can travel at speeds of up to 12 km/h "under heavy loads." According to Zoomlion, the tractor consumes 23.25 liters of diesel per hectare, which is 8% less than a comparable tractor in this power range. The four-post cab appears very spacious. There is no information available on whether the tractor will be marketed in Europe in the future.
Zoomlion is one of the largest construction machinery manufacturers, with a revenue of approximately $15 billion USD last year. One-third of the total revenue comes from the agricultural technology sector. In 2020, the company acquired the traditional brand Rabe Agrartechnik from Bad Essen. Globally, around 26,000 employees work for the conglomerate.