The world’s oldest robotic lawnmower has been found – and it’s still mowing the lawn after 30 years

By: Trademagazin Date: 2025. 06. 03. 11:20

This year marks 30 years since Husqvarna, the world leader in robotic lawn care, launched its first robotic lawnmower. To mark the anniversary, the company asked customers to help find the oldest lawnmower still in operation. The project attracted huge interest, with over a thousand owners of the vintage machine responding to the call, and it was eventually found in the home of Ingemar Carlsson in Motala, Sweden. The machine is still mowing the lawn 30 years later.

The competition received much more attention than expected. Many people from all over Europe came forward to tell the stories of their lawnmowers. The owners of the three oldest robotic lawnmowers in the world received Husqvarna Automower® machines equipped with the latest technology from the manufacturer.

“I’ve always been interested in new technology, and although my old lawnmower worked flawlessly for years, it’s nice to finally get a new one. I’m looking forward to seeing what today’s models can do. It feels like I’m stepping back into the future,”

says Ingemar Carlsson, the lawnmower’s owner.

In 1995, Husqvarna introduced what was believed to be the world’s first commercial robotic lawnmower, the Solar Mower. It was powered by solar energy, which was unique at the time. It was developed by a group of Husqvarna engineers who worked on the project in secret. They had to overcome initial skepticism within the company.

“The fact that some of the first models are still working is the best proof of our philosophy of producing machines that are ‘built to last.’ It is hard to imagine that the Solar Mower would have met with resistance, given that it has established such a successful business,” says Lars Andersson, who was responsible for the launch of the Husqvarna Solar Mower at the time.

While the task of mowing the lawn has remained the same as in 1995, the technology behind it has evolved dramatically. Today’s robotic lawnmowers represent the pinnacle of software and hardware innovation combined with user-friendly design.

There is now a wide range of products, each model specifically designed for different lawn surfaces, for both residential and professional users. The fully autonomous machines are not only designed for rough terrain and slopes of up to 70%, but they also have artificial intelligence connectivity and can be integrated into Google Home, Amazon Alexa and IFTTT systems via open APIs, ensuring seamless communication with smart home systems.

Models that work without a boundary wire are now available for residential gardens, ensuring more flexible and precise lawn care. Commercial models operate with satellite navigation, so there is no need for a physical wire and the grass is cut with pinpoint accuracy.