Technological debates are emerging, and a diversified technological approach is becoming increasingly clear

The current technological roadmap of China's tractor industry exhibits the following characteristics:

Firstly, multiple technological routes exist. Overall, these include power reversing, power shift, CVT, hybrid, pure electric, and new energy sources (such as methane, methanol, and hydrogen). Additionally, there are neglected but high-demand tractors using meshing sleeve shifting and synchronizer shifting. Currently, power reversing is supported by policy, and demand is increasing.

Secondly, different companies have chosen different technological routes. The anxiety and uncertainty among domestic agricultural machinery companies are evident. Due to the unclear future, companies are making choices based on their own capabilities. Some top tractor manufacturers have chosen a full-line technological roadmap, meaning they have reserves and layouts in all technological routes. This "wanting it all, wanting it all, and wanting it all" approach is typical of large companies, ensuring that they won't miss opportunities regardless of which technological route ultimately becomes mainstream.

The second tier and emerging brands opted to follow the lead, striving for diversified technological approaches. In the face of uncertainty about the future, they aimed to maximize their safety by offering multiple options.

The situation for companies in the third tier and lower tiers is far more complex. Some remain committed to synchronizer products, some have fully transitioned to hybrid powertrains, and others are betting on power-shift or CVT transmissions. In short, their choices are diverse, some proactive, some forced.

In summary, when observing the technological paths of domestically produced tractors, some companies have clearly adopted diversified technological approaches, possessing a full range of technological reserves. This stems not only from their comprehensive technological capabilities but also from the objective reality of diversified technological approaches in the current market.

Of course, the agricultural machinery purchase subsidy policy also has a significant and direct impact on tractor technology routes. Current policy guidance suggests a strategy similar to "race to the horse" rather than "favoring the horse," actively guiding the development of new energy tractors (a subsidy policy for hybrid tractors with over 200 horsepower was introduced in 2025), and strongly supporting intelligent control tractors based on power steering and power shifting, as well as hydraulic mechanical continuously variable transmission tractors.

Tractor manufacturers should adopt a nuanced approach to technology selection, recognizing that various objective conditions and policies will influence the future, potentially leading to a prolonged period of multiple technology routes coexisting in the domestic tractor market. Furthermore, seemingly outdated technologies will continue to upgrade and evolve.

Therefore, tractor manufacturers should avoid absolutism in their choice of technology routes and should not focus on only one technology route. Instead, they should choose multiple technology routes within their capabilities. The advantages of doing so are: first, no matter which technology route becomes mainstream in the future, the company will have the corresponding technology reserves; second, the transition between old and new technologies is a long process, during which time it can ensure the stability of current business and lay the foundation for future development.