New Holland Unveils R4 Robots to Slash Vineyard Labor by Up to 80%

New Holland has introduced the R4 robot series, a new line of autonomous machines designed to help vineyard, orchard, and specialty crop growers address labor shortages and improve efficiency. The company developed the R4 robots after consulting with growers about their most pressing challenges, focusing on repetitive and time-consuming tasks such as inter-row mowing, tillage, and spraying. In field trials, the R4 robots reduced labor requirements for these tasks by up to 80%.

Thierry Le Briquer, New Holland’s Grape, Olive & Coffee Product Manager, said that the company prioritized autonomous spraying, soil work, and mowing because growers identified these as difficult to staff and highly repetitive. The R4 robots are intended to take over these jobs so that human workers can focus on higher-value activities.

The design process for the R4 series included extensive feedback from growers regarding features, size, weight, and traction. The robots are built to operate in both large and narrow row widths and can handle steep terrain. They are also engineered to minimize soil compaction and help growers manage limited skilled labor resources. The machines feature a bi-directional mode for mowing, using rear LIDAR sensors to avoid crushing vegetation before mulching.

The R4 series includes an advanced track undercarriage and an equalizer bar, which allow for tight headland turns and improved maneuverability. New Holland designed the robots to be compatible with standard implements so that growers do not need to invest in an entirely new fleet. The company’s Intelligent Implement ecosystem can retrofit existing sprayers to automatically adjust flow rates, height, boundaries, canopy gaps, and spot spraying.

The R4 robots use a combination of GPS, LIDAR, and vision cameras for navigation. A single supervisor can remotely manage one or more robots through an app, reducing safety risks associated with chemical exposure and high-intensity work.

There are two models in the R4 series: the R4 Electric and the R4 Hybrid Power. Both models are designed to improve environmental compliance by operating in 100% electric mode and using a zero-oil implement system. Implements can be powered by electricity or mechanical PTO without hydraulic oil.

The R4 Electric is intended for high-end narrow vineyards. It is powered by a 40kWh battery pack that provides about eight hours of run time per charge. The machine weighs one tonne and measures 1.38 meters tall by 0.7 meters wide, making it suitable for crop spacing of 1 to 1.5 meters.

The R4 Hybrid Power is aimed at orchards, fruit producers, and wider vineyards. It weighs 1,400kg and has double the power-to-weight ratio of a conventional tractor. Its rear hitch can lift up to 500kg using linear electric motors. The hybrid model uses a 59hp diesel engine compatible with hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) to reduce emissions. It features a mechanical PTO with intelligent clutching for standard implements and a 48V/12kW e-PTO socket for future electrically-driven machines. The R4 Hybrid Power is optimized for row spacings of 1.5 meters or more and can operate efficiently in large orchards.

According to Le Briquer, the R4 offers a lower total cost of ownership compared to existing alternatives. Depending on vineyard type, growers could save between 10% and 22% per hectare by using the robots instead of dedicated tractor operators. A single R4 robot can cover about 25 hectares during the critical four-month seasonal window.

In real-world conditions, the R4 reduced labor requirements by up to 80% for inter-row mowing, tillage, and spraying tasks. The system includes automated on/off controls at canopy gaps and headlands as well as height-based adjustments.

The R4 Series will be previewed at GOFAR’s World Tour Stop in France on February 5, 2026. The event will take place at the Agrobiopôle site in Auzeville-Tolosane and is open to farmers, manufacturers, distributors, investors, and agricultural research stakeholders. Registration is required through gofar-tour.com. The robots are not yet available for purchase but are expected to draw interest from specialty crop producers seeking solutions for labor shortages and sustainability goals.