Europe's backyards have become the latest front in the robot wars. With a quarter of lawn owners saying they dislike mowing the grass, sales of machines that will do the job for them are taking off, especially in Europe where landscaping services are more expensive than in the US. That has spurred a legion of manufacturers to challenge market leader Husqvarna AB, Robert Bosch GmbH, Deere & Co. and Global Garden Products Italy SpA this year started offering robotic mowers, which Husqvarna sells for as much as $6,487. Honda Motor Co. plans to enter the fray in 2013.

Robotic lawn mowers gain ground in Europe

October 23, 2012

Europe’s backyards have become the latest front in the robot wars. With a quarter of lawn owners saying they dislike mowing the grass, sales of machines that will do the job for them are taking off, especially in Europe where landscaping services are more expensive than in the U.S. That has spurred a legion of manufacturers to challenge market leader Husqvarna AB, Robert Bosch GmbH, Deere & Co. and Global Garden Products Italy SpA this year started offering robotic mowers, which Husqvarna sells for as much as $6,487. Honda Motor Co. plans to enter the fray in 2013.