Honda Automobile dealers may have to wait a little longer for a self-driving EV to seriously challenge Tesla or GM — but Honda Power Equipment dealers are playing in a multibillion-dollar market too, and they have an advanced, autonomous, all-electric vehicle arriving right now.
Honda began production of the all-new ProZision Autonomous ZTR (first shown as a concept back in 2023) at its 40-year-old US Power Equipment factory in North Carolina back in January. The high-tech land management tool is now starting to reach dealers, with Honda aiming the $33,000 AI mower squarely at the heart of a two billion dollar domestic lawnmower market.
The ProZision Autonomous lets landscapers drive a property one time, “teaching” the mower the route as they go. Honda’s software then optimizes the path before the machine heads back out on its own, relying on a comprehensive suite of GPS positioning, LiDAR, radar, and 360-degree visual sensors to reproduce the trainer’s cutting path with an astonishing 3 cm (~1.25″) of accuracy.
The timing couldn’t be better for landscapers and land managers facing labor shortages in an increasingly tight labor market. At the same time, Honda’s commercial customers are demanding quieter, cleaner equipment, with more than 100 US cities and counties already adopting restrictions or outright bans on gas-powered landscaping equipment — and many more enforcing strict noise ordinances that are effectively forcing contractors to consider battery power.
The ProZision addresses both the labor and regulatory concerns. “The ProZision Autonomous was developed to help reduce various burdens on landscaping businesses facing challenges such as an aging workforce and labor shortages,” explains Minoru Kato, General Manager of Motorcycle and Power Products Operations at Honda Power Equipment. “Moving forward, Honda will continue to contribute to improving the quality of people’s work and daily lives through technological innovation that enables Honda to meet ever-changing market needs, while also enhancing its lineup of electrified products toward the realization of carbon neutrality by 2050.”
The Machine Itself
The mowers — available with 54″ and 60″ cutting decks — are built for professional landscapers’ needs, with power coming from a 48V battery system driving five individual brushless electric motors. That setup is designed to deliver high torque and longer runtimes as the industry moves away from noisy and increasingly regulated gas engines.
It’s a transition that Honda Power Equipment appears to be fully embracing. “Technology is transforming products across Honda, and our new battery-powered lawn mowers are no different,” said Mark Kohls, Vice President of Honda Power Sports & Products, American Honda. “Our battery-powered Honda ProZision Zero-Turn Radius lawn mowers deliver zero-emission, cost-effective turf care solutions for a wide variety of customers, conditions, and commercial applications.”
Pricing for Honda’s ProZision ZTR family of commercial mowers starts at $32,999 and may be eligible for local utility and government tax incentives — check with your local dealer for details.
Source and images: Honda.
