+ 33 (0)3 26 48 69 62 
July 27, 2022
Reims, July 27, 2022 – European agricultural equipment manufacturer SAME Deutz-Fahr (SDF Group) has acquired a majority stake in French vineyard robotics specialist VitiBot. The two companies are combining their strengths, skills and values to develop and offer the market a range of disruptive, innovative and high-performance products for a new, increasingly eco-responsible form of precision farming.
A leader in the emerging wine-growing robotics market with its Bakus® solution, a 100% electric, autonomous straddle-trimmer, VitiBot is a young French company based in Reims, in the heart of the Champagne region.
The company was founded in 2016 by a father and son, Dominique BACHE, a winegrower in the Aube convinced by Cédric BACHE, a young robotics engineer. Today, in its field, VitiBot embodies a new dynamic in the French agricultural equipment industry, creating new professions and numerous jobs in the future.
The Bakus® solution is the fruit of 5 years of research and development by a team of young engineers, all passionate about robotics and ecology, who have put at the heart of their project the ambition to offer winegrowers new practices that are more virtuous for the environment and people.
SDF Group is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of tractors, grape harvesters and heat engines. The group distributes its products under the SAME, DEUTZ-FAHR, Lamborghini Trattori, Hürlimann and Grégoire brands.
A recognized leader in the field of specialized agriculture for almost a century, SDF Group employs over 4,000 people worldwide and has sales of over €1.5 billion in 2021.
“We are delighted with this acquisition of a majority stake. We’re going to be able to meet the challenges of tomorrow’s agriculture, as has been our ambition since the beginning of our adventure. Joining SDF Group, a century-old player, recognized worldwide for its products and values, is a great opportunity for us, and a guarantee of growth and success.” Cédric BACHE, Managing Director of VitiBot.
This acquisition is a real innovation gas pedal for SDF Group, and generates significant synergies for these two highly complementary businesses.
SDF Group, known for its state-of-the-art 4.0 industrial installations, is also particularly committed to a process of product innovation through digital technology in order to provide a sustainable precision agriculture offering, with comprehensive, integrated solutions.
Today, the SDF Group’s priority objectives are unmanned operation, digital services, agronomic data collection and management, and the introduction of electrification technologies for agricultural equipment.
With VitiBot, SDF Group will benefit from the essential contribution of teams of highly qualified employees working on very specific issues that are key to achieving these objectives.
The deal also consolidates VitiBot’s position as a leader in wine-growing robotics, and ensures that we can deliver local, personalized support to each and every one of our customers.
The company’s historic investors, the Champagne Houses Roederer, Martell Mumm Perrier-Jouët, Laurent-Perrier, Piper-Heidsieck and Charles Heidsieck, are continuing the VitiBot adventure as shareholders and members of the Strategic Committee, supporting the company in the next stage of the project.
Within the SDF Group, VitiBot will retain its full autonomy in terms of technical, industrial and commercial development, as will other Group subsidiaries such as grape harvester manufacturer Grégoire. The start-up’s entrepreneurial spirit and agility will continue, with many highly qualified positions available immediately.
With more than 50 Bakus® robots already in use in vineyards around the world, a well-filled order book, and a sales force operating directly and via a growing network of dealers, VitiBot’s acquisition by SDF Group will enable it to accelerate its commercial development and consolidate its status as an international benchmark in wine-growing robotics and the design of breakthrough products in line with the needs of the wine-growing and, in the future, agricultural markets.
VitiBot : technology for increasingly sustainable viticulture and agriculture.
Contact Presse – SAS VitiBot – Bernard BOXHO
Directeur Général Délégué
bernard.boxho@vitibot.fr | Tel. (+33) 3.26.48.69.62 | cloud.vitibot.fr
Please download the press release below :
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