Kioti CK2620 - Telematics

[Hoppe]

As of 12/2025, the CK2620 is delivered with a telematics unit on it that tracks the tractor and sends the info back home to Korea, complete with GPS coordinates.

I'm not sure about any of you, but I did not buy a 25HP no emission control, dead nuts simple tractor in order to have big brother ******** attached to it. Nowhere did I find Kioti advertising any of it.

Anyway, hypothetically if you looked at the left side of the dash compartment, from below, you can see a "FCC" label on one of those units. It is the most leftmost computer module on this tractor.

Hypothetically, simply unplugging it, and the "KIOTI connect" big brother tracking is Kaput.

Is there any other electronic ******** that I should be aware of on this tractor that can simply be disabled?

 

[D&D]

Currently, KIOTI Connect is compatible with RX Series, HX Series, and compact construction models free of charge for the first three years, giving users the opportunity to experience its full range of features. After the initial period, customers will have the option to continue with a subscription or discontinue the service.

KIOTI News & Events

Stay informed with the latest KIOTI news and events. Discover our recent achievements, upcoming events, & important announcements.

www.kioti.com

There are 2 levels of the app, one is just a maintenance type tracker based on user input.

 

[Hoppe]

Currently, KIOTI Connect is compatible with RX Series, HX Series, and compact construction models free of charge for the first three years, giving users the opportunity to experience its full range of features. After the initial period, customers will have the option to continue with a subscription or discontinue the service.

KIOTI News & Events

Stay informed with the latest KIOTI news and events. Discover our recent achievements, upcoming events, & important announcements.

www.kioti.com

There are 2 levels of the app, one is just a maintenance type tracker based on user input.

I can tell you with 110% certainty the very newest CK2620 have the telematics unit on it and not just the maintenance tracking. I downloaded the app and it showed the exact position of it every trip. Until I unplugged the module with the "FCC" label on it that was transmitting live information while it was running, after unplugging the mapped "work history" no longer show up on the app.

They do not advertise this anywhere. I suspect they know people buying CK2620 want an 'old school' simple tractor and that it is not a selling point. I'm guessing I got one of the first ones with this "feature."

 

[GrandpaSmurf825]

You can undoubtedly disable it. I can also tell you that about every other brand has had this for probably close to 10 years. We installed a system to track our machines on the older equipment. When someone steals it it leads you right to them. Yes it isn't 100% full proof because some will figure out how to disable it. But many machines also require a code be input to start them. We had a machine that the operator claimed that someome used it over the weekend because it was damaged. Really? Telematics showed that it didn't start or move all weekend. Oops.....busted. They aren't spying on you anymore than your vehicle is.

I will also add that it gave us the ability to troubleshoot issues from afar as well. Operator called and said I'm in derate. I could bring the machine up on my phone and see what the fault was and if it was something I could deal with or if it was emissions related and needed to go back to the dealer.

 

[Hoppe]

You can undoubtedly disable it. I can also tell you that about every other brand has had this for probably close to 10 years. We installed a system to track our machines on the older equipment. When someone steals it it leads you right to them. Yes it isn't 100% full proof because some will figure out how to disable it. But many machines also require a code be input to start them. We had a machine that the operator claimed that someome used it over the weekend because it was damaged. Really? Telematics showed that it didn't start or move all weekend. Oops.....busted. They aren't spying on you anymore than your vehicle is.

Yes absolutely. Very easy to disable (so if someone wanted to joy ride on the weekend, they could do it no problem, then plug it back in and make it appear no one had used it). Still it is nice to know it exists as the Kioti advertising does not inform you the CK tractors now have it. Anyway, if someone else encounters it I wanted to document how to disable it because as far as I know no one else has documented encountering it on this model.

 

[paulsharvey]

So, couple things; 1) if its got live data, its got a sim card to transmit that, and ive watched videos of people using those to get free mobile data on tablets/phones
2) I really wouldn't worry about it, the fact that you can access the data freely pretty much shows it's not nefarious. 3) You can always just unplug it. 4) It honestly sounds like a somewhat useful feature; 5) Are you sure its Kioti, and not the insurance company?

If it works like Geotab, (thats a bit different, as it gathers all data through the OBD2 port), it tracks a lot, idle hours, location, frequent trips/stops. It is independent of the vehicle, yes, it gets the data from it, but it doesn't lock out or control anything; 100% info.

 

[Hoppe]

So, couple things; 1) if its got live data, its got a sim card to transmit that, and ive watched videos of people using those to get free mobile data on tablets/phones
2) I really wouldn't worry about it, the fact that you can access the data freely pretty much shows it's not nefarious. 3) You can always just unplug it. 4) It honestly sounds like a somewhat useful feature; 5) Are you sure its Kioti, and not the insurance company?

If it works like Geotab, (thats a bit different, as it gathers all data through the OBD2 port), it tracks a lot, idle hours, location, frequent trips/stops. It is independent of the vehicle, yes, it gets the data from it, but it doesn't lock out or control anything; 100% info.

Yes I can absolutely see how it might be valuable for some people.

I think you are right that it does not control anything, but I'm not 100% certain.

It is nice that Kioti has at least made the electrical harness connector easily accessible; if it were not the lateral most module it would be more difficult to disconnect; and also nice it doesn't appear to break anything or interlock the engine if the telematics is disconnected.

On point (5) I am 100% sure it's Kioti. I paid cash and have no insurance. The module is clearly OEM and works through Kioti's app.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Very easy to disable (so if someone wanted to joy ride on the weekend, they could do it no problem, then plug it back in and make it appear no one had used it).

Wouldn't it look a bit odd if hours were added to the engine, but nothing in the system indicates that the engine had been running?

 

[Hoppe]

Wouldn't it look a bit odd if hours were added to the engine, but nothing in the system indicates that the engine had been running?

Probably depends on the tractor. The Kioti connect app for this tractor seems to depend on telematics hours for the +12V accesory or ignition rail when the key is in the engine on to record time spent on the tractor. I don't think it's very well integrated with the engine as the engine is pretty much purely mechanical. I could be wrong on this point, though. Some of the other Kioti tractors (mostly the ones with regen / emission controls) have an ECU that might have CAN bus or other interface that's easier to interface with telematics and I would expect those would sync up the true mechanical hours well and give you a reliable 'jump' you could point out in telematics discrepancies.

I did a test run under an hour with the telematics unplugged, there was no distinguishable change in the app. It was basically 'ghost' time. It would be very easy to 'frame' someone on the weekend and then blame the guy who operated it on Friday -- wouldn't take more than a few minutes to do some serious damage, if that was someone's aim.

 

[mrmikey]

That would tick me off. I didn't pay to have big brother watching me. It'd be the first thing I disabled.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

I did a test run under an hour with the telematics unplugged, there was no distinguishable change in the app. It was basically 'ghost' time.

Playing devil's advocate in normal fashion, what if you had reached or exceeded one hour?

 

[paulsharvey]

It really sounds a lot like Geotab frequently used in company vehicles. Maybe a more stripped down version, but often you can set alarms for off hour usage, excessive idle, frequent out of service stops, ect; fleet tracking.

Even in a vehicle fleet, it's kinda a mixed bag. You set off hours as 6a-7p, then the fleet manager is getting alarms for night work. Ours also reports excessive speed, hard braking, hard acceleration, high G force (accidents), seat belt usage, location, and idle. Not a fan of being tracked, but...

I dont think Kioti is doing anything intrusive though. Im sure they use the data for business planning, but largely, it sounds like a tool for the owner. Maybe it can also be used to deny warranty if you run with low oil or similar?

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I wonder if they could loom at any information that could be used to deny a warranty claim?

 

[GrandpaSmurf825]

I wonder if they could loom at any information that could be used to deny a warranty claim?

It all depends upon how sophisticated it is. As I said in my earlier post we could troubleshoot with it on Cat machines. It can report any stored codes that are in the ECM. Just because you unplug and use the machine and then plug it back in doesn't mean that it won't catch up the hours once they can communicate with each other either.

They can also send software updates out to the machines that way. The local rock quarry that has a John Deere loader had a issue recently. Local township sent me there to get a load of crushed rock and the loader operator said he was down waiting on a mechanic. That the update had locked everything up so it wouldn't do anything. I don't know all the details other than to know that they had to wait for the mechanic to hook a laptop up.

 

[D&D]

I can tell you with 110% certainty the very newest CK2620 have the telematics unit on it and not just the maintenance tracking. I downloaded the app and it showed the exact position of it every trip. Until I unplugged the module with the "FCC" label on it that was transmitting live information while it was running, after unplugging the mapped "work history" no longer show up on the app.

They do not advertise this anywhere. I suspect they know people buying CK2620 want an 'old school' simple tractor and that it is not a selling point. I'm guessing I got one of the first ones with this "feature."

W/e

 

[LouNY]

That kind of snooping hardware is NEVER installed just for the owner/operators convenience.
You can rest assured that Kioti will use that and any all possible information for their benefit NOT yours.

 

[paulsharvey]

That kind of snooping hardware is NEVER installed just for the owner/operators convenience.
You can rest assured that Kioti will use that and any all possible information for their benefit NOT yours.

Those are Not mutually exclusive though. Of coarse Kioti wants data for future product design, marketing, planning, ect. That doesnt hurt the customer necessarily. In this case, if the data is useless to our OP, just unplug it, but personally, the ability to track the machine if stolen seems like a free upgrade

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

That kind of snooping hardware is NEVER installed just for the owner/operators convenience.
You can rest assured that Kioti will use that and any all possible information for their benefit NOT yours.

JD has it, so you can pay your per acre subscription fee for their sprayers.

Wait, no, it's to help the farmer who is barely holding on.

Or is it.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

I recently bought a CK35se and received an email about registering my tractor on their app for diagnostics etc. Turns out, my tractor does not have the hardware. I thought I read it was for the bigger tractors, I may be wrong though.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Noticed that telematics is now an option on Kubota UTVs. And not cheap one.