ZETOR Celebrates 80 Years – From the First Three Z 25 Tractors to Series 6

On March 15, 2026, it will be exactly 80 years since the first three ZETOR Z 25 tractors rolled off the production line at the Zbrojovka factory in Brno. This moment marked the beginning of the history of a traditional Czech brand that has become one of the best-known names in the global tractor industry over the decades. Over eight decades, ZETOR has undergone technological development, market changes and transformations in agriculture itself. However, the brand has consistently maintained its core values – an emphasis on robust construction, simple operation and the practicality of its machines in everyday work.

From Z 25 to Modern Tractors

The first model, the Z 25, was developed shortly after World War II as a response to the need for rapid agricultural mechanization. The tractor quickly gained popularity not only in Czechoslovakia but also abroad. As early as the 1950s, ZETOR began exporting its machines to dozens of countries worldwide and became an important export product of the Czechoslovak engineering industry.

Another significant milestone came in the early 1960s with the introduction of the unified model range UŘ I, which brought more modern design solutions and the unification of key components. The concept of unification significantly simplified both production and servicing and became one of the brand’s defining characteristics.

This philosophy was followed in the late 1960s by the UŘ II series, which offered more powerful tractors for demanding work. The CRYSTAL model also made history, becoming one of the first tractors in the world equipped with a safety cab and achieving several world-leading parameters, such as one of the lowest noise levels in the cab at the time, providing very comfortable working conditions for the operator.

The 1970s marked the period of ZETOR’s greatest expansion, with tens of thousands of tractors leaving the factory each year and being exported to dozens of countries around the world. During this period, ZETOR also introduced its first six-cylinder tractor with an output of 160 horsepower.

After 1989, the company underwent a major transformation. ZETOR gradually modernized its production program and adapted to the new conditions of the European and global markets. The UŘ III series, which remains popular to this day, was introduced, and with the arrival of the new millennium a generation of tractors was developed that accompanied the brand through its modern era – namely the PROXIMA, FORTERRA and the modernized MAJOR and CRYSTAL series. These tractors built on the brand’s traditional design philosophy while responding to new demands from farmers in terms of performance, comfort and operational efficiency. In 2002, the company was acquired by the Slovak company HTC holding, which remains the owner of ZETOR to this day.

Today, ZETOR tractors operate in more than one hundred countries worldwide across all continents except Antarctica, and the brand remains closely associated with the positive reputation of high-quality Czech engineering.

The Brand Today

In recent years, ZETOR has been undergoing a gradual transformation aimed at strengthening the company’s stability and adapting production to the current conditions of the global market. The company focuses on increasing efficiency in areas that have a direct impact on customers – product quality, spare parts availability and reliable service.

Modern ZETOR tractors use top-quality European components, with emphasis placed on the overall machine concept, operator comfort and long-term operational reliability. An important step in the brand’s further development is the new Series 6, introduced to the market in 2025, which represents a modern generation of tractors meeting current technological standards. This will be followed by the upcoming Series 5 in the 100 to 130 horsepower segment.

Outside Europe, ZETOR manufactures five additional model ranges – COMPAX, HORTUS, MAJOR, SUPER and VST ZETOR 5011. The first four ranges are intended for non-emission regulated markets and are exported to Mexico, Latin America, Africa and Asia, while the VST ZETOR 5011 model is designed for the Indian market. As part of the development of tractors for non-emission regulated markets, ZETOR is also working on the development of a cab tractor with an output of 80–100 HP. Through tractor production for non-emission markets in India, the brand is strengthening its position in global markets and returning to regions where it historically had a strong presence.

80 Years of the ZETOR Brand

The company will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the brand together with the public in April at the AgriShow exhibition in Brno, where selected historic ZETOR models will be displayed alongside the new Series 6. Visitors to the exhibition will be reminded not only of the brand’s historical milestones but also of the role ZETOR tractors have played in the mechanization of agriculture in many countries.

Eight decades of the ZETOR brand represent not only a reflection on an important part of the history of European agricultural mechanization, but also a reminder that tractor development in Brno continues today.