Core Insights - Monarch Tractor, an autonomous electric tractor startup, is facing potential layoffs of over 100 employees and may even shut down due to financial difficulties [1] - The company has raised at least $220 million since its founding in 2018, with a significant portion of $133 million raised in 2024 [2] - Monarch Tractor has shipped around 500 tractors but is restructuring to focus more on software services and licensing its autonomous technology [3] Company Developments - Monarch Tractor's autonomous technology has faced criticism, with a lawsuit from a dealer claiming the tractors were "defective" and unable to operate autonomously [4] - The company is pivoting away from manufacturing tractors, especially after losing its contract manufacturer, Foxconn, earlier this year [4] - The new business plan aims to offer software as a service (SaaS) autonomy and other software offerings directly to consumers, which is expected to unlock new revenue streams [5] Financial Performance - In 2025, over 70% of Monarch's revenue came from licensing, with expectations for further growth in this segment in 2026 [5]