- Former Volkswagen chief Herbert Diess has launched a tractor company.
- His firm, DIESS E-Agrartechnik, plans a mid-range e-tractor for 2027.
- Upcoming model will have swappable batteries and affordable pricing.
The road of life is filled with plenty of unexpected twists and turns. That certainly applies to former Volkswagen boss Herbert Diess, who was ousted in 2022.
We haven’t heard much about him lately, but the former executive is now following in the footsteps of Lamborghini and building tractors. In a LinkedIn post, he announced a new company called DIESS E-Agrartechnik AG, which is based in Munich.
More: VW Brings Electric Tractors With Swappable Batteries To African Farms As Rentals
It plans to launch a “revolutionary new mid-range e-tractor for farmers and municipal services” in 2027. The upcoming model promises to be competitive with diesel-powered tractors, but have 50% lower operating costs. The DIESS tractor will also have a swappable battery pack, which allows for “24/7 operation.”
The tractor promises to be one of the most versatile on the market and will be offered with a wide range of attachments including mowers, loaders, and winter gear. Diess went on to say the model will be of the “highest quality,” despite being attractively priced.
He went on to hint at solar charging stations and autonomous operation in the future. The former automotive heavy weight also teased an unnamed partner who is an “innovative, established agricultural machinery company.”
While there are more questions than answers at this point, the tractor has an enclosed cab as well as meaty tires. We can also see floating fenders, side steps, and what appear to be U-shaped lighting units.
Despite sounding like an odd career move, Volkswagen launched the GenFarm Project in 2021 under Diess. It focused on electric tractors for Africa and they share a number of similarities with the new model. This includes swappable batteries and solar charging, although both are far from a novel idea.
