Think back to 1995: dial-up internet was screeching into homes, Toy Story hit cinemas, and the height of tech luxury was a flip phone that barely fit in your pocket. Amid all that retro glory, one Swedish brand quietly rolled out a piece of futuristic genius that most people didn’t quite know what to make of – a little solar-powered robot that could mow your lawn all by itself.
It was called the Solar Mower (nicknamed “the turtle”), and it was Husqvarna’s first-ever autonomous lawn mower. Back then, the idea of a robot taking care of your grass while you sipped a cuppa sounded like something from The Jetsons. But three decades later, robotic lawn mowing is no longer science fiction – it’s Saturday reality. And Husqvarna are still leading the charge.
Then: The Birth of the Lawn-Cutting Revolution
Husqvarna’s first robotic mower hit the market 30 years ago, and while the early versions were basic by today’s standards, they laid the foundation for a total transformation in how we care for our gardens. By the late 1990s, Husqvarna had released its first commercial model – a rechargeable battery-powered mower that navigated obstacles and adjusted its cut to suit the terrain. By 2003, their second generation could handle huge lawns (up to 6000m²!) and even ran on a hybrid of solar power and battery.
Fast forward to 2011 and beyond, and the upgrades just kept coming: compact mowers for small gardens, app connectivity, GPS theft tracking, LED headlights, and even all-wheel drive to tackle steep slopes. In Europe, these futuristic machines became as common as backyard BBQs – even Denmark’s iconic Tivoli Gardens had a fleet trimming the lawns.
In Australia, early adopters were quick to see the potential too. “Around 2007, customer demand shifted, and it became clear that Husqvarna robotic mowers were the way of the future,” says Pru Stever of Paull’s Richmond Mowers. “Since then, Husqvarna has continued to lead the way.” And with more than 3.5 million robotic mowers installed globally, it’s safe to say the rest of the world agrees.
Now: Wire-Free, Worry-Free and Seriously Smart
Thirty years on, Husqvarna isn’t just celebrating a milestone – it’s redefining what mowing looks like in 2025. The brand’s new Nera range takes the hassle out of lawn care entirely, with smarter, more connected, and – best of all – boundary wire-free technology.
Say goodbye to digging trenches or fiddling with cables. With Husqvarna’s satellite-based EPOS system, you can now set your mower’s virtual boundaries straight from your phone. That means you’re free to rearrange garden beds, put up new fencing, or move the trampoline without having to rewire your whole yard.
The just-launched 305E Nera and 405XE Nera models are perfect for smaller suburban lawns (up to 900m²), complete with EdgeCut technology to keep borders neat and radar-powered object avoidance to steer clear of forgotten toys or garden gnomes. Meanwhile, the 435X AWD Nera brings muscle to more complex lawns, with all-wheel drive to conquer slopes of up to 70% and mow areas up to 5000m².
And here’s where things get really cool: Husqvarna’s new “systematic mowing” mode now cuts in neat, efficient lanes – up to 50% faster – and lets you choose between a pristine striped finish or a checkerboard pattern worthy of a championship cricket pitch.
For those with larger or trickier gardens, the brand-new Automower 310E Nera also joins the lineup, covering up to 1500m² with the same wireless precision and clever EdgeCut tech. It’s all controllable via the Automower Connect app, where you can set up zones, adjust mowing heights, and even schedule cuts while you’re away.
The Future: More Time, Less Effort, Better Lawns
If there’s one thing Husqvarna’s 30-year journey proves, it’s that mowing doesn’t have to be a chore – and the lawns of the future practically look after themselves. What started as a quirky solar-powered experiment has become a seamless, sustainable, and seriously smart part of modern life.
Whether you’re chasing a perfectly manicured backyard for summer entertaining, a lush front lawn with zero effort, or simply a few extra hours in your weekend, Husqvarna’s next-gen Automower range is making it easier (and more high-tech) than ever.
Because let’s face it: if robots can drive cars and write emails, they can definitely mow the lawn. And do it better than we ever could.
