Interview: Talking new tractors with Yanmar’s Jon Richardson

Yanmar introduced three new products at Equip Expo, and we sat down with Jon Richardson, director of the rural lifestyle division, to learn more. “Three new products, historically, has been a lot in one model year. We have a healthy pipeline of new products to come in the next five years. Why? We want to supply the products and solutions customers need,” said Richardson. 

This year’s three new Yanmar vehicles are all tractors. Will the company enter new product segments in the near future? Richardson was noncommittal on that question, but he didn’t rule it out. 

“Several years ago, we changed the name of our division from Agriculture to Rural Lifestyle,” said Richardson. “We are not making large combines or high horsepower units. That’s not the segment we work in. So Rural Lifestyle fits us better, and that can include landscape contractors, plus landowners, whether just property owners or small farmers.” 

Richardson said that Yanmar currently has about 350 dealers of rural lifestyle products, and the manufacturer is trying to grow that. “Certain parts of the U.S. are more of a target for us, but we are looking at dealer growth throughout the country,” he said. Yanmar is also – with this relatively aggressive new product launch – working to grow brand recognition for its tractors and UTVs. “We’re doing that more with the SM line in particular and will expand that,” said Richardson. 

New SM475

The new 74 horsepower SM475 is Yanmar’s most powerful tractor offering in North America to date. It uses a clutch-less power shuttle transmission and has convenience features such as adjustable power steering, tilt, and an optional joystick-controlled loader. This tractor has a dual-entry deluxe cab, climate control, ergonomic operator station with a digital command hub, and an audio system. 

Kuro: The Limited Edition SA223

For the first time in North America, Yanmar is introducing the Kuro Edition, a limited release SA223 tractor for rural landowners. Kuro means “black” in Japanese, and the SA223 Kuro Edition trim comes with black accents plus a suspension seat. Featuring dual-range speeds, standard differential lock, and three-point hitch position control, the SA223 Kuro Edition is powered by Yanmar’s 3-cylinder, liquid-cooled diesel engine paired with hydrostatic transmission. This model will be available in summer 2025. 

Eleo Electric Tractor 

At last year’s Equip Expo, Yanmar showed a concept of its fully electric tractor powered by the company’s latest in Eleo off-highway battery pack technology. Yanmar expects to release its first electric tractor for rural use in 2026. 

“At Equip Expo, Yanmar is excited to reveal a broader range of tractors designed to meet the needs of more types of rural landowners and landscape contractors, including the Kuro Edition SA223 and our most powerful tractor yet, the SM475,” said Jon Richardson, in a press release. “Yanmar is also leading the way with its first battery-powered concept tractor, a crucial step to becoming a fully carbon-neutral organization as part of the Yanmar Green Challenge 2050. Taken together, these new tractors continue the Yanmar tradition of producing powerful yet efficient, versatile, and comfortable tractors built to last.”