Kubota Tractor Corporation officially lunched WorkSmart Autosteer, a precision guidance system built for compact and utility equipment, extending technology traditionally used on Kubota’s large ag tractors to more machines across its broader equipment lineup.
The system works like an autopilot: It holds the line while the operator stays in command of the operation. Priced at an MSRP of $6,000, the system is compatible with new and used Kubota equipment, is backed by a two-year limited warranty and can be financed through Kubota Credit Corporation to qualified purchasers. WorkSmart Autosteer makes its public debut at the Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa, and aims to transform how contractors and turf professionals approach their most demanding tasks.
Most precision guidance products on the market have been engineered for full-size row-crop tractors and sold as third-party kits. Kubota is entering the market with a different approach; WorkSmart Autosteer is engineered for the specific model it is installed on. The unit may be sold, installed, serviced and even warranted and financed through a single dealer relationship. The result is manufacturer-quality integration at a competitive price.
“WorkSmart Autosteer isn’t about removing the operator from the decision; it’s about helping to remove fatigue and error from the equation,” said Austin Hawkins, senior manager, technology sales and marketing, Kubota North America. “At your command, the machine holds the line, so you stay sharp, cover more ground and still get home with something left for the people who matter most.”
Two levels of accuracy
WorkSmart Autosteer offers two correction levels:
- SBAS (WAAS): 6-8 inches of repeatable pass-to-pass accuracy, no subscription required.
- PPP: 1-inch accuracy for specialty crops and precision applications, where every fraction of an inch directly impacts yield, quality and marketability. Available with an annual subscription.
Both system options integrate seamlessly with Kubota’s user interface and maintain consistent accuracy throughout field operations, making adoption simple for first-time guidance users and experienced operators alike.
Direct impact on profitability
Kubota’s analysis of a typical operation highlights the value precision guidance can deliver in a single season:
- Precision that repeats, pass after pass. Guidance holds the machine to a defined line, so each pass registers against the one before it. That consistency is what allows seed, fertilizer and crop protection products to land where the operator planned them to land, rather than where the last pass happened to end.
- Less ground covered twice. Overlap is work the operation performs and pays for a second time. By holding the guidance line, the system reduces the pass-to-pass overlap that manual steering leaves behind, so more of the day goes to new ground.
- Repeatability that does not depend on seat time. Holding a straight line across a long field is a learned skill. Guidance carries that skill in the machine, so the line the system holds is the same line whether the operator has one season behind them or 30.
- One system across the whole operation. The same repeatable guidance runs into turf and grounds work, where the finished pattern is visible to everyone who looks at it.
Dealer installation, training and support
Authorized Kubota dealers can install the system in approximately two hours and provide a training session to ensure operators are confident and comfortable with the technology — offering full Kubota dealer support on the product from sale to hands-on training. The system operates through a WorkSmart Autosteer app, available for iOS and Android devices. App tutorials, calibration guides and operational videos to support ongoing learning and troubleshooting are also available.
Compatible with Kubota tractors, mowers and RTVs
WorkSmart Autosteer is compatible with select Kubota tractors, mowers and RTVs, making precision guidance accessible to turf maintenance professionals. The system supports seeding and planting, tillage and cultivation, hay operations, spraying and spreading, mowing, road grading and more.
“We installed WorkSmart Autosteer with two different customers,” said Tom Butner of Marshall Service Company in Marshall, Mo. “One is using the system for general row crop farming and the other in his hay production operation, and the steering performance has been excellent. What really sold them is how easy it is to operate, even for operators who have never used precision guidance before.”
Pricing and availability
WorkSmart Autosteer carries an MSRP of $6,000, plus dealer installation, for both new and used equipment. Financing is available through Kubota Credit Corporation to qualified buyers. The system is available now at authorized Kubota dealers.