To enable the current generation with the most efficient equipment possible, it takes a big leap (or two) in technology from some of the industry’s biggest players. John Deere proved eager to step up to the plate at CES 2026, with two new machines equipped with the latest autonomous technology. One, the impressive X9 1100 Combine, and the other, a road paver in collaboration with Vögele.
Both pieces of equipment are designed to address persistent construction challenges, such as the skilled trades workforce gap and small-task overload. They’ll leverage the same tech stack John Deere previously developed, but this time with new connectivity via 4G and Starlink satellite broadband in remote locations. This enables live data sharing, machine-to-machine communication, remote diagnostics, and better self-repair.
To better dig into the CES 2026 announcements, Under the Hard Hat spoke with Aaron Wetzel, Vice President of Production and Precision AG Production Systems, and Craig Lamarque, Vice President and Head of Digital Products at Wirtgen, a John Deere company.
The X9 1100 Combine
At the John Deere booth at CES, the new X9 1100 Combine is the showstopper. In fact, it takes up your line of sight from several booths away. This machine is equally impressive in scale and tech stack. It’s equipped with GNSS guidance, stereo cameras, Predictive Ground Speed Automation, and an AI-powered Harvest Settings Automation. The X9 uses real-time data to adjust processing and speed parameters to optimize speed, efficiency, safety, and grain quality.
“The precision allows us to help the environment,” says Wetzel. “Because this way, we’re putting fewer chemicals in the fields. And there’s no wait. This machine is available worldwide. We have these now operating with customers in Europe, Latin America, Australia, and the United States and Canada.”
While it still requires an operator in the seat, this machine delivers up to 30% productivity gains for farmers while essentially driving itself. The biggest improvement over previous models is the upscaled process quantity and precision. That, paired with its integrations with the John Deere Operations Center, means better performance analytics and remote monitoring capabilities. The goal here was to bring tech to machinery in ways that actually move the productivity needle, without the bells and whistles only for show.
The Vögele Road Paver
The new road paver, in collaboration with Vögele, also reduces the operator workload. The company adapted the GPS receiver from the farming equipment for the paver. Like the combine, it leverages AI, computer vision, and automation to grind surfaces to a precise level before asphalt application. The machine essentially guides itself, eliminating the need for one operator and reducing high-risk duties during operation.
“So the machine creates a digital model of the pave surface, which is then verified by the customer to validate it’s in fact going where the road owner wanted it,” said Craig Lamarque. “Then that digital file is uploaded to the machine over the air, using John Deere Operation Center, which is our telematics platform. So there’s no physically going after the machine or plugging in anything. It’s all done over the air.
As soon as they do that, the driver no longer has responsibility for steering. At that point, their only job is to monitor material flow, effectively simplifying their role. Individuals employed to manually control the end gate are no longer needed. It’s a game-changer in terms of keeping operations safe and filling the labor shortage.”
The impact on the industry
At CES, none of the key players are reinventing the wheel in terms of machinery. Instead, they’re creating high-tech, optimized versions of what they already have, making adoption more accessible and feasible, vastly improving efficiency and safety while addressing the growing labor shortage.
“We’ve got some very exciting product launches coming in the spring that continue to augment our portfolio of solutions for our customers, “ added Wetzel. “But I think what you can see is that John Deere will continue to stay focused on really learning the challenges that our customers are facing in their day-to-day operations, and how our products and our technologies can come together to help create more value for them. So this is just the beginning.”
John Deere has been an innovator in construction for decades, and its technological and AI advancements are enabling it to remain a multifaceted player in the industry for generations to come.
Subscribe to the Under the Hard Hat newsletter, and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram to stay up to date with the latest content from CES 2026.
