New Holland reveals electric tractor concept to operate in vineyards

Straddle Tractor Concept is a concept tractor designed to serve narrow vineyards typical of France's premium wine regions such as Champagne, Médoc and Burgundy

New Holland Agriculture, a CNH Industrial brand, presented the Straddle Tractor Concept worldwide, a concept tractor designed specifically to meet the demands of narrow vineyards, typical of France's premium wine regions such as Champagne, Médoc and Burgundy. 

These operations produce high-quality, high-value wines from grapes grown in rows less than five feet wide, often on steep slopes and in small vineyards. Under these conditions, the harvest is done manually and most of the vineyard maintenance work is carried out using a tractor that moves over the rows.

To develop the Straddle Tractor Concept, New Holland partnered with Pininfarina, which developed a futuristic design around the cabin, which offers high comfort and safety, in addition to the tractor having electric traction, following the strategy of New Holland - leader global clean energy.

The overall exterior design stands out for its fluid and dynamic automotive-inspired lines. The exposed frame gives it a sporty look. The shape of the cabin, inclined in the working direction, adds dynamism to the vehicle. The design of the front of the machine combines function with style. Inspired by the shape of a champagne glass - tall, wide at the top and tapering at the bottom - it is a reference for the premium winegrowers who make up its main customer base. This shape, together with the surrounding glass, provides the operator with exceptional visibility into the vineyards and all around. 

The interior, easily accessible thanks to the large single door and swivel seat, offers an extremely comfortable environment. The use of wood contributes to the luxurious feel of the cabin, which connects in appearance again with the client's type of business, linked to the wood of wine barrels.

“Our innovative Straddle tractor concept offers a glimpse of the future that premium wine producers with high-value, narrow vineyards can aspire to. It is the result of New Holland's long history of excellence in vineyards around the world, combined with inspired innovation from the legendary design house Pininfarina. It’s testament to New Holland’s constant effort to develop new solutions to meet our customers’ more specialized needs and envisions an even greater expansion of our broad offering – the broadest in the industry,” says Carlo Lambro, global president of New Holland.

Founded in 1930, Pininfarina has evolved from an artisanal factory to an international services group, becoming synonymous with the supreme expression of automotive style and an established reality in terms of industrial design and experience, architecture, nautical and mobility that goes beyond the automotive sector .

Kevin Rice, Creative Director at Pininfarina, explains: “We worked as a team with New Holland to design the Straddle Tractor, a concept capable of offering a completely new experience. We leverage our skills gained from over 90 years of car design, combining unique, distinctive style and world-class performance, always keeping the human experience at the center. In New Holland, we have found a partner who shares our values ​​and our innovation-driven approach; We are confident that the new concept will be able to shape the future direction of this sector.”