The Rise of Robotic Mowing: Husqvarna Marks 30 Years of Innovation

Husqvarna is celebrating 30 years of robotic mowing in 2025, marking three decades since the company launched its first autonomous lawn mower. What began as an ambitious idea in 1995 has since evolved into a global industry, with robotic mowers now maintaining everything from suburban backyards to large-scale public spaces.

The company’s first model, the Solar Mower, was an early foray into automated lawn care, using solar power to operate independently. Today, Husqvarna has developed a fleet of 31 robotic mowers designed for both residential and commercial use, reflecting the growing demand for autonomous solutions in outdoor maintenance.

In Australia, the uptake of robotic mowers has been steady, with early adopters seeing the potential for these machines to simplify lawn care. Pru Stever, owner of Paull’s Richmond Mowers, was among the first to recognise the shift in consumer demand.

“Around 2007, we noticed customers becoming more interested in automated solutions,” she said. “It was clear that robotic mowers were going to become an important part of the industry, and we adapted accordingly.”

John Hickleton, founder of Mowers Galore, saw the scale of robotic mower adoption during a 2017 study tour in Europe.

“Looking out the train window in Sweden, I saw these mowers in almost every backyard. They were being used in public parks, along nature strips, and even at Denmark’s Tivoli Gardens. It showed just how advanced other countries were in adopting this technology,” he said.

While robotic mowing has been widely accepted in Europe, Australian homeowners and businesses have taken longer to integrate the technology into their maintenance routines. However, the trend is shifting, driven by the convenience and environmental benefits of battery-powered automation.

Over the past three decades, Husqvarna has continued to refine its technology, introducing models with GPS-assisted navigation, app connectivity, and all-wheel-drive capabilities for challenging terrains. More recently, the launch of the CEORA system has expanded the technology’s application to commercial turf management, covering areas up to 75,000 square meters.

Despite initial scepticism, the company’s long-term investment in robotics has positioned it as a leader in automated lawn care. Former Husqvarna CEO Henric Andersson previously reflected on the company’s willingness to take risks in developing new technologies.

“Courage is important, but so is the ability to commit to an idea long enough to see it succeed,” he said.

As Husqvarna marks its 30-year milestone, the role of robotic mowing in outdoor maintenance continues to grow. With increasing concerns around sustainability and efficiency, the industry is expected to expand further, reshaping how lawns and public spaces are managed in Australia and beyond.

Rolls-Royce has unveiled the Phantom Centenary Private Collection, a landmark series of just 25 motor cars honouring the 100th anniversary of its most storied model.

Described as the marque’s most complex and technologically ambitious creation to date, the Centenary Collection is a statement of craftsmanship, symbolism and legacy, three years in the making.

Each Phantom Centenary tells the story of the nameplate’s century-long reign as the pinnacle of luxury motoring.

Every surface, from its embroidered headliner to its gold-detailed engine cover, reflects an element of Rolls-Royce’s history.

The Bespoke Collective of designers and artisans distilled the Phantom’s heritage into 77 motifs that appear throughout the car, created using groundbreaking techniques such as 3D marquetry, ink layering, laser-etched leather and 24-carat gold leafing.

Chief Executive Chris Brownridge called the Centenary Collection “a tribute to 100 years of the world’s most revered luxury item,” describing it as “a motor car which reaffirms Phantom’s status as a symbol of ambition, artistic possibility, and historical gravitas.”

Inside, the rear seats feature more than 160,000 stitches across 45 panels of high-resolution printed and embroidered fabric inspired by historic Phantoms, developed in partnership with a fashion atelier.

The front seats are laser-etched with hand-drawn sketches that reference key design codenames, while the Anthology Gallery installation – 50 brushed aluminium fins engraved with a century of quotes – forms a centrepiece that reads like a living archive.

The exterior pairs Super Champagne Crystal paint with Arctic White and Black tones, finished with iridescent glass particles. Each car is crowned with a solid 18-carat gold Spirit of Ecstasy, enamelled and hallmarked with a bespoke “Phantom Centenary” mark. Even the famed RR badges have been plated in 24-carat gold and white enamel for the first time.

Bespoke woodwork depicts the Phantom’s most defining journeys, from Sir Henry Royce’s homes in France and England to the 4,500-mile expedition of the first Goodwood-era Phantom across Australia. Roads and landscapes are etched in gold, and interior embroidery continues these lines in gleaming thread.

The Starlight Headliner, with 440,000 stitches, portrays the mulberry tree under which Royce once worked, complete with bees from the marque’s Goodwood apiary and constellations referencing legendary Phantoms such as Sir Malcolm Campbell’s ‘Bluebird’.

Limited to 25 cars worldwide, the Phantom Centenary Private Collection stands as both an homage to Rolls-Royce’s past and a promise of its future, a modern-day heirloom crafted to be read, driven and remembered over generations.

The Rise of Robotic Mowing: Husqvarna Marks 30 Years of Innovation

Only 25 of the most intricate Rolls-Royce Phantoms ever made will celebrate the nameplate’s 100-year legacy.