Retrofit autosteer prices are dropping: How Chinese brands are reshaping the market
Chinese manufacturers are disrupting the retrofit autosteer market by offering cost-effective, high-tech alternatives, which is leading to lower prices worldwide and pushing traditional brands to innovate and rethink their pricing strategies
Farmers ultimately benefit from more choices and greater affordability when adopting precision agriculture solutions. Lower production costs, including cheaper labour and raw materials, allow Chinese brands like CHCNAV and eSurvey to offer high-accuracy autosteer systems at significantly lower prices compared to Western brands such as John Deere, Trimble, and Topcon.
With Chinese alternatives now available from $5,000, established brands are forced to adjust their pricing strategies to remain competitive.
Price categories: budget, mid-range, and premium systems
The retrofit autosteer market can be divided into 3 price categories: budget options (under €5,000/$5,500), mid-range options (€5,000-€10,000/$5,500-$11,000), and premium systems (above €10,000/$11,000).
Budget options (< €5,000/$5,500)
The most affordable autosteer kit is AgOpenGPS, a DIY system starting at approximately €500 ($550). However, this kit requires technical expertise for installation and operation, making it suitable only for farmers comfortable with assembling and maintaining their own systems.
Other budget-friendly options include the FieldBee PowerSteer at €4,750 ($5,200), and the Huida Technology HD408 at $4,980 (€4,600). The Hexagon ElectricSteer is also in this category, selling for $4,900 (€4,500).
Mid-Range options (€5,000-€10,000/$5,500-$11,000)
Most autosteer kits fall within this range, offering a balance of affordability and functionality. The CHCNAV NX510 starts at €5,900 ($6,500), while the upgraded PRO version is priced at approximately $7,999 (€7,300). The new CHCNAV NX612, featuring an improved screen and additional functionalities, is priced from €6,900 ($7,600).
The FJDYNAMICS AT2 MAX starts at €5,350 ($5,900), and the SingularXYZ SAgro100 starts at €5,500 ($6,100). eSurvey’s EAS301 Pro is currently priced at $6,499 (€6,200), while the hydraulic version costs $7,499 (€7,100). Sveaverken’s F100 Auto-Steer System is available at €4,999 ($5,500) for the basic version and €5,999 ($6,600) for the advanced version.
John Deere’s AutoTrac Universal 300 is priced at €8,490 ($9,300), and its modular pricing includes hardware components and licenses: the G5 Plus Display with AutoTrac and Section Control costs €8,000 ($8,800), while the Small G5 Display and AutoTrac license cost €2,500 ($2,750) each. The StarFire 7500 receiver is priced at €3,300 ($3,600), and the JDLink modem costs €480 ($530). The Raven RS1 starts at €6,500 ($7,200). The TeeJet UniPilot Pro is priced between €6,000 and €9,000 ($6,600-$9,900), while TeeJet’s new ISOBUS-based A10 terminal system, including a steering wheel, costs just over €10,000 ($11,000).
Premium systems (> €10,000/$11,000)
The Ag Leader SteerCommand Z2 is priced at US $8,000 (€7,394) including a CANbus vehicle kit. The Ag Leader SteerCommand Z2 DualTrac, the most expensive of its lineup, costs $17,000 (€15,600). The Move On TAS system has seen a significant price reduction from $17,000 (€15,600) to €4,500 ($5,000) due to the company’s shift in focus toward AI-driven retrofit solutions.
Hexagon’s premium systems include the ElectricSteer with L1/L2/RTK at $8,600 (€7,900) and the Hydraulic Steer with L1/L2/RTK at $9,000 (€8,200). The largest system, the Agres agroNave, is priced at $12,000 (€11,000).
Most expensive vs. cheapest options
The most expensive system remains the Ag Leader SteerCommand Z2 DualTrac at $17,000 (€15,600). This makes it one of the highest-end retrofit autosteer kits on the market. On the other end, the AgOpenGPS DIY kit is the cheapest, starting at just €500 ($550). Among the other solutions, FieldBee PowerGuide at €1,590 ($1,750) and the FieldBee PowerSteer at €4,750 ($5,200) offer highly affordable alternatives.
Considerations: conditions, extras, and regional pricing
Several systems offer additional options, impacting the final price. Cerea’s autosteer kit, priced at €4,895 ($5,400) plus VAT, includes optional ISOBUS licenses, rear cameras, extra buttons, and a base station. CHCNAV’s NX612 introduces a larger display and enhanced functionalities, compared to the CHCNAV NX510. TeeJet’s A10 system integrates precision agriculture modules. Farmers should also factor in regional market conditions, dealer pricing, and support availability, as these influence the overall cost-effectiveness of each system. Please note that prices can vary based on these factors.
