EVwire brief: Herbert Diess is back. The former Volkswagen CEO has founded DIESS E-Agrartechnik AG in Munich, with plans to launch a mid-range electric tractor for farmers and municipal services in 2027.
Writing on LinkedIn, Diess laid out his pitch: a swappable battery system for 24/7 operation, dual driving directions, and compatibility with all standard attachments including winter equipment, mowers, and loaders. He also says the company is already "fully on schedule for product development."
"From the first deliveries in 2027, we will be fully competitive with comparable diesel vehicles - with 50% lower operating costs."
Beyond the electric tractor itself, the company plans to develop solar charging stations, electric attachments, and eventually autonomous agricultural machinery. They're already working with an unnamed established agricultural machinery partner in the DACH region, and are currently recruiting a global sales director with agricultural experience.
Here’s Herbert Diess’ LinkedIn post:
And here’s a render of the company’s electric tractor:
Swappable batteries should allow the electric tractor to operate around the clock
Context:
This isn't Herbert Diess' first rodeo with electric tractors. During his time at Volkswagen, he led the GenFarm project, which developed an electric tractor for agricultural use in Rwanda. He test-drove a prototype near Wolfsburg in 2021, and the project entered operational deployment in Rwanda in 2024.
Here’s his photo with the GenFarm electric tractor:
The former VW CEO looks very comfortable with electric tractors
Since leaving VW in 2022, Diess has kept himself busy: he became Chairman of the Supervisory Board at chip manufacturer Infineon in 2023, advocates for bidirectional charging at The Mobility House, and runs an estate in Spain with a hotel, cattle farming, and a pear plantation. An electric tractor company feels very on-brand.
One caveat worth noting: as of now there's no commercial register entry or company website for DIESS E-Agrartechnik AG. The announcement came entirely via LinkedIn.
Source: Herbert Diess on LinkedIn, electrive
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