New Zealand-based agricultural automation specialist Robotics Plus has announced its acquisition by Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. The deal establishes Yamaha Agriculture, Inc., a new entity dedicated to advancing autonomous equipment and AI-powered digital solutions for specialty crop growers, enhancing sustainability, profitability, and resilience against resource scarcity and climate change.
Pioneering Agricultural Automation
Robotics Plus has a strong track record of developing cutting-edge agricultural automation solutions that integrate robotics, automation, sensing, and data analytics. Its latest innovation, Prospr, is a durable, autonomous, multi-purpose hybrid vehicle designed for orchard and vineyard operations. Prospr addresses labor shortages and improves efficiency, sustainability, and safety through various functionalities, including spraying and weed control, with additional attachments like mowing in development. Other Robotics Plus innovations include the Āporo Fruit Packer, which automates fruit packing, and a robotic log scaler for automated log measurement in transportation.
A Strategic Partnership for Growth
Yamaha Motor has supported Robotics Plus since 2017 with strategic investments to accelerate agricultural automation advancements. Following the acquisition, Robotics Plus will maintain its headquarters in Tauranga, New Zealand, preserving high-value skilled jobs and intellectual property while leveraging Yamaha Agriculture’s support to expand globally.
Steve Saunders, co-founder and CEO of Robotics Plus, stated, “Our vision has always been to develop world-class robotic technology to address labor, productivity, and sustainability challenges in agriculture. This acquisition marks the culmination of a strong partnership with Yamaha, sharing a commitment to empowering large-scale growers. Innovations like Prospr are central to Yamaha Agriculture’s global strategy, enabling a data-driven approach to precision agriculture. With Yamaha’s backing, we can accelerate our robotics innovations, scale manufacturing, and expand into key markets such as the U.S. and beyond.”
Dr. Alistair Scarfe, co-founder and chief engineering officer at Robotics Plus, emphasized, “Transforming agriculture requires tackling large-scale challenges. Robotics Plus has built a world-class team that delivers industry-leading robotic solutions. Yamaha’s expertise has been invaluable, and we’re eager to further our innovations with Yamaha Agriculture, maintaining our focus on quality, reliability, and safety.”
Yamaha Agriculture’s Commitment to Innovation
Nolan Paul, Group CEO of Yamaha Agriculture, Inc., highlighted the company’s mission to support specialty crop growers: “We recognize that addressing growers’ challenges demands thoughtful, long-term solutions. Robotics Plus’ expertise in robotics and automation, combined with AI-powered data analytics, will be instrumental in this effort. Our goal is to create meaningful innovations that provide real value to growers while upholding Yamaha’s reputation for quality and reliability.”
Integrating Robotics and AI for Precision Agriculture
Robotics Plus’ Prospr vehicle will play a crucial role in Yamaha Agriculture’s broader strategy, complementing another recent acquisition, The Yield, which specializes in AI-powered data analytics for optimizing agricultural operations. Yamaha Agriculture aims to integrate these technologies to serve specialty crop producers, including wine grapes and apples, across North America, Australia, and New Zealand. By merging autonomous equipment with intelligent data insights, the company seeks to help farmers reduce input costs, optimize resource use, and enhance productivity and sustainability.
A Global Vision from Day One
Since its inception, Robotics Plus has operated with a global outlook, expanding to a team of 130 professionals with worldwide deployments of its robotics solutions.
Steve Saunders remarked, “Scale is key to making technology accessible and affordable for growers. From the beginning, we partnered with a global corporation that shared our vision, which accelerated our expansion. Our team has demonstrated that a world-leading agritech business can be built from New Zealand and successfully scaled internationally.”
He extended gratitude to those who contributed to the company’s journey, including its dedicated team, partners, suppliers, and collaborators. Saunders also acknowledged the support of New Zealand Government entities such as ACC (an early investor), NZTE, Callaghan Innovation, MPI, and MBIE, which played a role in Robotics Plus’ early growth.
About Robotics Plus
Robotics Plus is a New Zealand-based agritech company that empowers growers to adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing world. Specializing in robotics, AI, and autonomous machines, the company reduces labor reliance while providing data-driven insights for informed decision-making. Its solutions are designed, tested, and proven in real-world agricultural environments, driven by a highly skilled and agile team. Robotics Plus emphasizes purposeful partnerships and deep robotics expertise to deliver intelligent, durable solutions that enhance agricultural sustainability and success.
About Yamaha Agriculture
Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. has launched Yamaha Agriculture, Inc., focusing on autonomous equipment and AI-powered digital solutions for specialty crop growers. Through the acquisitions of Robotics Plus and The Yield Technology Solutions, Yamaha Agriculture is developing and deploying robotic solutions for spraying, weeding, and other field operations. By integrating robotics with AI-driven analytics, the company aims to enable precision farming for specialty crop producers in North America, Australia, and New Zealand, ensuring a sustainable, profitable, and resilient agricultural sector.
