The Story of Monarch Tractor - with Praveen Penmetsa Co-founder & CEO

Today is an exciting day! For the first time on What Color is Your Tractor, we sit down with co-founder and CEO of a tractor manufacturer on the day the first machines roll off the line! Chrissy Wozniak speaks with Praveen Penmetsa of Monarch Tractor to hear how this incredible company was formed, and the features of this industry leading tractor.

Monarch Tractor Launches Production of Founder Series MK-V:

The First Commercially Available Electric, Driver-Optional Smart Tractor

Constellation Brands, one of the world’s most prominent producers of wine, spirits and beer, has partnered with Monarch by purchasing the first six units of the Founder Series MK-V tractor

LIVERMORE, Calif. – December 1, 2022 – Monarch Tractor, maker of the MK-V, the fully electric,  driver-optional, smart tractor, today announced the first tractors are coming off the Founder  Series production line at its headquarters and manufacturing facility in Livermore, California. The rollout comes less than two years since Monarch unveiled its groundbreaking tractor that  combines electrification, automation, and data analysis to help farmers reduce their carbon  footprint, improve field safety, streamline farming operations, and increase their bottom lines.  Constellation Brands, the leading global premium, fine wine and craft spirits producer and largest  beer importer in the US, has partnered with Monarch as its first customer, through its purchase of the first six Founder Series MK-V tractors.

The use of the MK-V tractor simultaneously helps solve  numerous challenges farmers face today including labor shortages, safety concerns, increased  customer scrutiny for sustainable practices, government regulations, and more. Key features of  the MK-V include: 

• Renewable Technology: The MK-V is 100 percent electric and has zero tailpipe emissions.  It also serves as a 3-in-1 electrification tool, operating as a tractor or utility vehicle during  operation, as well as a powerful electric generator in the field. 

• Driver Optional: Monarch utilizes the latest autonomous and robotics hardware and software technology, including the NVIDIA Jetson edge AI platform, to provide driver-assist and driver-optional operations. The Monarch MK-V can perform pre-programmed tasks without a driver, or an operator can use the Monarch interactive automation features including Shadow mode to have the Monarch Tractor follow a worker on the job.

• Unprecedented Safety: The MK-V is packed with safety features including rollover and  collision prevention, vision-based Power Take Off (PTO) safety, and 360° cameras to keep  operations running smoothly and employees safe, day or night. 

• Deep Learning & Sensing Suite: The MK-V collects and analyzes crop data daily and can  process data from current and next-generation implements equipped with sensors and  imaging. This data can be used for real-time implement adjustments, long-term yield  estimates, current growth stages and other plant/crop health metrics. 

• Smart Device Operation: Through a smartphone or personal device, MK-V users receive  tractor status alerts, detailed operations reports, and data collection, analysis, and  storage for more efficient farm planning. 

• Powerful: The Monarch electric drivetrain is capable of providing 40HP (30KW) of  continuous power and short duration peak power up to 75HP

 
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