ATVs and Utility Vehicles

Machinery News: AE50 Innovation Winners, Deere Details Its U.S. Manufacturing Investments and More

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 17:00:20 GMT

AGCO, Case IH, Claas and Deere among 2025 AE50 Class
ASABE recently announced the winners of its 2025 AE50 Awards. The annual award program celebrates companies and their technological innovations in agricultural, food, and biological systems.

With six AE50 Awards apiece, Case IH and Deere & Company top the list of companies with multiple honors. Others with more than one award include AGCO, Claas, MacDon, and Salford Group.

AE50 Awards are chosen by a panel of technology experts who rank nominations for innovation, engineering advancement, and impact.

The 2025 winners will now be reviewed for selection of the Davidson Prize, presented each year the top three products. This year’s Davidson Prizes will be announced at the 2025 Commodity Classic, being held March 1–4, at the Colorado Convention Center, in Denver.

Learn more and get the full list of winners here.

Bad news at Artic Cat ATV factories in Minnesota
The owner of Arctic Cat, Rhode Island-based Techtron, Inc., is suspending production at Arctic Cat’s facilities in Thief River Falls and its engine manufacturing plant in St. Cloud, The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.

In a filing with the SEC, Textron announced it is seeking strategic alternatives for Arctic Cat. “The consumer end market demand for powersports products continues to remain soft,” wrote the company in its filing.

Read the full story over at StarTribune.com.

Busy 2024 Wraps Up at Deere
John Deere recently dropped a new press release detailing the equipment manufacturer’s dedication to U.S. manufacturing over the last 12 months.

The highlights include:

Plans to expand its Reman Core Center facility in Strafford, Missouri, by an additional 120,000 square feet. The $13.5 million expansion will break ground in mid-2025 and is expected to be completed in 2026.
Its Waterloo, Iowa, facility recently added a new 9RX High-Horsepower tractor assembly line.
Invested $48 million to bring its largest combine, the X9, to Harvester Works in East Moline, Illinois, renovating 385,000 square feet of manufacturing space while adding $101 million in equipment and manufacturing processes.
Deere’s large sprayer facility in Des Moines, Iowa, underwent a $48 million expansion in July 2024.
Its Seeding facility in Moline, Illinois, underwent a 60,000 square foot expansion costing over $10 million.
Invested $70 million to build a new 380,000-square-foot factory in Kernersville, North Carolina – expanding its footprint while adding over 150 new jobs.

Get all the details from the full press release over at Deere.com

GSI: Now Is the Time for Grain Storage Maintenance
Harvest is complete and grain is in the bins, but there’s still work to be done, writes GSI in a recent press release.

GSI District Manager Dave Ellis says it’s important that farmers perform postharvest grain system maintenance over the winter months.

Ellis recommends the following maintenance practices:

Grain pit – Clean out the grain dump pit to prevent it from filling up with debris or allowing any remaining grain to rot, which could attract rodents or other pests. If the pit has a sump pump, ensure it is working to avoid water buildup.
Grain conveyors – Inspect the bearings on grain legs and conveyors to make sure they are in good working order. Check that grain elevator belts and buckets are intact and that belts are tight and replace as needed.
Bins – Clean up around grain bins and check for any damage that could allow water to enter, leading to grain spoilage.
Aeration – Clean fans, removing debris or any other obstructions that could reduce performance. Inspect the motor and electrical connections to determine if any repairs or replacement parts are required.

Your Next Read: Why You Should Care About Farming’s Economic Shifts

Machinery & Tech News: AGI Fends Off Takeover, CNH Announces Another Departure

Fri, 31 May 2024 19:12:39 GMT

AGI confirms, fends off takeover bid

Ag Growth International (AGI) has struck down an unsolicited takeover offer, according to an official statement from the Canadian company. The statement stops short of naming precisely where or from whom the offer originated.

From the AGI statement, distributed via Business Wire on May 29, 2024:

While it is AGI’s policy not to comment on market speculation or rumours, AGI confirms that it received an unsolicited, non-binding and conditional proposal to purchase the Company, which the board of directors, in consultation with financial and legal advisors, thoroughly considered and determined was not in the best interests of AGI or its shareholders. AGI is not in discussions with any third party, nor is there any agreement, understanding or arrangement with respect to any proposal.

CNHi announces another executive departure

A month after the exit of then CEO Scott Wine and the appointment of Gerrit Marx in the same role, CNH Industrial - the parent brand of Case IH - recently announced the exit of the head of its Agriculture division, Derek Neilson, to “pursue entrepreneurial projects outside of the sector.”

Neilson had been with the global equipment manufacturer for 25 years, according to a press release announcing the transition.

While short on details, the release noted Neilson’s accomplishments and thanked him for his service to the company. No mention of an immediate successor or interim appointment has been made as of this posting.

Kubota releases limited edition Sidekick colorway

After making a bit of a splash at CES 2024 with its autonomous concept utility tractor, Kubota is releasing the Sidekick Stone Gray Special Edition UTV in limited quantities, according to an email bulletin from the company.

The four-wheel, two seat utility vehicle features a bold new color, 16 factory assembled accessories - including a WARN AXON 4,500 lb integrated winch and electric bed lift - and is available in limited quantities and coming soon to Kubota dealers in the U.S.

Learn more here.

John Deere Gives Gators Hands-Free Steering with AutoTrac

Wed, 13 Jul 2022 20:27:39 GMT

Select full-size John Deere Gator utility vehicles (UVs) can now come AutoTrac Ready from the factory starting with model year 2023.

The UVs come with the necessary wiring harnesses and brackets to be paired with a 4640 display and StarFire 7000 receiver–or other guidance units.

“John Deere is enabling the productivity gains farmers have seen while using AutoTrac technology on their tractors and integrating it into a smaller, more nimble machine – a Gator Utility Vehicle,” Maureen McCormack, Go-to-Market manager, Gator Utility Vehicles for John Deere said in a product announcement. “Farmers and ranchers can use their AutoTrac equipped Gator Utility Vehicle for precise grid sampling, spraying and field boundary creation. AutoTrac equipped Gator UVs feature a combination of functionality and versatility that helps drive efficiency and productivity in everyday jobs.”

The models currently available with this capability are John Deere 835/865 cab units including:

XUV835M HVAC
XUV835R
XUV835R Signature Edition
XUV865M HVAC
XUV865R
XUV865R Signature Edition

For the model year 2023 full-size Gators, John Deere also announced the following six features included in the base price:

Factory-installed side mirrors to improve visibility on cab vehicles
Spray-in liner in the cargo box for added durability on M- and R-trim vehicles
Cargo box power lift for easy dumping on all R-trim models
Brake and taillights for added visibility on M- and R-trim vehicles
Maxxis Bighorn 2.0 extreme-terrain radial tires on steel wheels on M-trim vehicles
Predator Heavy-Duty all-terrain radial tires on alloy wheels on R-trim vehicles

ROXOR Side-By-Side: ‘Tough As A Hammer'

Thu, 11 Nov 2021 20:49:27 GMT

Mahindra launches its new ROXOR off-road side-by-side (SXS), a rugged workhorse for farmers, ranchers, off-road enthusiasts and rural lifestyle customers.

The simple, yet sturdy design makes the ROXOR a unique vehicle for everyday chores around the farm or ranch with the reliability to venture into rugged terrain when the need arises.

“We are redefining the SXS category with this strong and rugged machine. It is designed and built for reliability and performance that will exceed customer expectations,” said Viren Popli, President and CEO, Mahindra Ag North America and Mahindra Automotive North America. “It’s a side-by-side unlike any other.”

During a demonstration for media held at the Don Imus Ranch near Santa Fe, New Mexico, the ROXOR proved reliable, comfortable and easy to operate. Farmers and ranchers will like ROXOR’s boxed steel frame, steel body, a Mahindra 2.5-liter turbo diesel engine with unmatched toque and towing power. The steel frame and body are superior to the light-duty, plastic-bodies found on other side-by-sides. The test drive over rugged ranch trails also revealed how the sturdy design and reliability of the low-torque engine improves operator safety compared to other side-by-sides.

“We’ve redesigned the ROXOR to better reflect those things that are hallmarks of the Mahindra and ROXOR brand – strength, ruggedness, toughness and capability,” said Rich Ansell, VP of Marketing for Mahindra Automotive North America. “One of our customers said the ROXOR is built like a hammer – this is a heavy-duty vehicle. It has solid axels, leaf springs, turbo diesel and a real transmission. Other side-by-sides are toys in comparison.”

Two ROXOR vehicles are currently offered, said Mike Dragojevic, vice president of sales and service. The base machine is open-platform and priced at $18,999. “The base is a blank canvas to add whatever you want,” Dragojevic says. “Customers will enjoy the simplicity.”

The All-Weather ROXOR features a full cab with standard heating, ventilation and air conditioning. The windscreen has a durable polycarbon design called “military-grade.” The All-Weather model has a sturdy steel bumper and Warn 8,000-pound winch and priced at $26,299. The machines are available in two colors, red or black.

ROXOR has a wheelbase length of 96 inches with an overall length of 148 inches. The vehicle is just over 60-inches wide, with a ground clearance of 9 inches and a lift kit is available as an option that raises that to 12-inches. Towing capacity is 3,490 pounds and ROXOR can carry a payload of 349 pounds plus the driver and passenger. The vehicle comes with a 2-speed transfer case, full-floating axles, disc brakes up front, drum brakes at the rear and standard 16-inch wheels. Rollover protection is standard.

Much of the company focus with the launch of the redesigned ROXOR will be on the farm and ranch segment.

“The demand for the ROXOR with farmers and ranchers is strong due to the vehicle’s ability to take on the tough jobs around their property,” Ansell said. “They already know and like the Mahindra brand because of how successful we’ve been with our tractors, and we intend to build on this strong reputation for tough, easy-to-use products.”

“The Mahindra brand is synonymous with tough and ROXOR further solidifies this position,” said Popli. “We are excited to create a new definition of SXS, one that matches our tractors for tough and handles any job with ease.”

Click here to view the ROXOR Base Model spec sheet. Click here to view the ROXOR All-Weather Model Spec Sheet.
For more information, visit www.roxoroffroad.com and follow ROXOR on social media via facebook.com/roxoroffroad and @roxoroffroad on Twitter and Instagram.

Can-Am Introduces New Side-By-Sides For 2020

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 06:20:06 GMT

Utility vehicles won’t replace pickup trucks anytime soon, but they have certainly earned their place on farms and ranches as valuable, dependable workhorses.

Can-Am has tuned into producers’ need for a utility vehicle that’s suitable for both function and fun with its Defender side-by-side.

For 2020, the entire Defender lineup has been redesigned to deliver more value and a better, quieter ride, while offering up to 82 horsepower and a class-leading 69 lb-ft of torque. In addition, Defender side-by-sides now offer more insulation, a thicker firewall and new exhaust.

Producers wanting to brave the elements in style and comfort now have access to an industry first with the 2020 Can-Am Defender Limited HD10. It’s the first UTV offering a climate-controlled cockpit with both air conditioning as well as heat and is available as a three- or six-seater.

Also new for 2020 is the Can-Am Defender 6x6 HD 10. It features six-wheel traction and a box that can be adjusted to perform a variety of towing and carrying tasks, managing heavy loads and extreme terrain with ease.

Pricing for the new 6X6 starts at $17,999 and the Limited in the mid-$20s.

For more information about the complete 2020 Can-Am Off-Road vehicle lineup, including detailed technical information and product specs, visit https://can-am.brp.com/off-road/. In addition, Can-Am product manager Jean-Jacques Rivet details new Defender features in the following video: