<PAGE>   1
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                   Form 10-QSB

X    Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
     Act of 1934


For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2001 or

     Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
     Exchange Act of 1934


For the transition period from ___________ to ____________

Commission File Number:                            0-27166
                       ---------------------------------------------------------

                                XATA Corporation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)


<TABLE>
<S>                                                                 <C>
                               Minnesota                                         41-1641815
--------------------------------------------------------------       -------------------------------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)      (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
</TABLE>

            151 E. Cliff Road, Suite 10, Burnsville, Minnesota      55337
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices)           (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code:             (952) 894-3680


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last
report)


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was
required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days.

                                                 Yes X    No


                      APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS:


As of August 10, 2001, the following securities of the Registrant were
outstanding: 6,893,351 shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value per share.





                                       1
<PAGE>   2
                                XATA Corporation
                                      Index




<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION                                            Page No.
<S>                                                                       <C>
            Item 1. Financial Statements:
                Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2001
                and September 30, 2000                                         3

               Statements of Operations for the Three and Nine
               Months Ended June 30, 2001 and 2000                             5

               Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months
               Ended June 30, 2001 and 2000                                    6

               Notes to Financial Statements                                   7

            Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis
                      or Plan of Operation                                     9



PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
            Item 1. Legal Proceedings                                         12

            Item 2. Changes in Securities                                     12

            Item 3. Defaults upon Senior Securities                           12

            Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders       12

            Item 5. Other Information                                         12

            Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K                          12

            Signatures                                                        13
</TABLE>


                                     2
<PAGE>   3
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

XATA Corporation
BALANCE SHEETS
June 30, 2001 and September 30, 2000
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     June 30,         September 30,
                                                      2001                2000
                                                   -----------         ---------
ASSETS                                             (unaudited)         (audited)

<S>                                                <C>                <C>
Current Assets

  Cash and cash equivalents                        $   124,681        $   928,497
  Accounts receivable, net                           3,637,938          4,047,758
  Inventories                                        1,210,676            458,250
  Prepaid expenses                                      86,251            103,458
  Deferred income taxes                                600,000            600,000
                                                   -----------        -----------
    Total current assets                             5,659,546          6,137,963

Equipment and leasehold improvements, net              383,631            384,757

Other Assets

  Capitalized software development costs, net        5,252,611          5,401,699
  Other                                                      0             12,500
                                                   -----------        -----------
    Total other assets                               5,252,611          5,414,199
                                                   -----------        -----------
    Total assets                                   $11,295,788        $11,936,919
                                                   ===========        ===========
</TABLE>



                                       3
<PAGE>   4
XATA Corporation
BALANCE SHEETS
June 30, 2001 and September 30, 2000



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     June 30,          September 30,
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY                   2001                2000
                                                   -----------           ---------
                                                   (unaudited)           (audited)
<S>                                               <C>                 <C>
Current Liabilities

  Bank line of credit                             $  1,633,541         $    586,365
  Current maturities of long-term debt                 247,410              168,482
  Accounts payable                                   1,947,136            1,725,235
  Accrued expenses                                     655,148              924,938
  Deferred revenue                                     659,488              644,504
                                                  ------------         ------------
    Total current liabilities                        5,142,723            4,049,524

Long-Term Debt                                         680,798              788,944

Shareholders' Equity

  Common stock                                          55,793               55,802
  Additional paid-in capital                        12,670,851           12,708,245
  Accumulated deficit                               (7,254,377)          (5,665,596)
                                                  ------------         ------------
    Total shareholders' equity                       5,472,267            7,098,451
                                                  ------------         ------------
    Total liabilities and shareholders' equity    $ 11,295,788         $ 11,936,919
                                                  ============         ============
</TABLE>




                                       4
<PAGE>   5
XATA Corporation
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
For the Three and Nine Months ended June 30, 2001 and 2000

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               Three Month Periods                    Nine Month Periods
                                                               Ended June 30,                         Ended June 30,
                                                         2001                 2000                 2001                 2000
                                                     ------------          ------------          ------------          ------------
                                                      (unaudited)            (unaudited)        (unaudited)          (unaudited)
<S>                                                  <C>                   <C>                   <C>                   <C>
Net sales                                            $  3,651,740          $  3,255,099          $ 10,240,204          $  9,346,528

Cost of goods sold                                      2,681,268             2,092,656             6,846,551             5,537,868
                                                     ------------          ------------          ------------          ------------
  Gross profit                                            970,472             1,162,443             3,393,653             3,808,660

Operating expenses                                      1,891,120               997,977             4,462,781             3,080,909
                                                     ------------          ------------          ------------          ------------
  Operating profit (loss)                                (920,648)              164,466            (1,069,128)              727,751

Non-operating income (expense)
  Interest expense                                        (68,398)              (57,001)             (194,047)             (124,920)
  Interest income                                           7,320                   425                37,438                 2,292
  Other income (expense)                                 (392,692)              (25,834)             (363,044)             (154,196)
                                                     ------------          ------------          ------------          ------------
                                                         (453,770)              (82,410)             (519,653)             (276,824)
                                                     ------------          ------------          ------------          ------------
Earnings (loss) before income taxes                    (1,374,418)               82,056            (1,588,781)              450,927


Income taxes                                                    0              (220,000)                    0              (380,000)
                                                     ------------          ------------          ------------          ------------
Net earnings (loss)                                  $ (1,374,418)         $    302,056          $ (1,588,781)         $    830,927
                                                     ============          ============          ============          ============


Net earnings (loss) per share
  Basic                                              $      (0.25)         $       0.06          $      (0.28)         $       0.18
                                                     ============          ============          ============          ============
  Diluted                                            $      (0.25)         $       0.06          $      (0.28)         $       0.17
                                                     ============          ============          ============          ============

Weighted average common and common
equivalent shares outstanding
  Basic                                                 5,589,030             4,535,225             5,586,285             4,481,982
                                                     ============          ============          ============          ============
  Diluted                                               5,589,030             5,030,538             5,586,285             4,996,267
                                                     ============          ============          ============          ============
</TABLE>




                                       5
<PAGE>   6
XATA Corporation
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Nine Months Ended June 30, 2001 and 2000


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    Nine Month Periods
                                                                       Ended June 30,
                                                                2001                2000
                                                             -----------         -----------
                                                             (unaudited)         (unaudited)
<S>                                                          <C>                <C>
Cash provided by Operating Activities
                                                             -----------         -----------
    NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES      $  (574,096)        $   514,670
                                                             -----------         -----------

Cash used in Investing Activities
  Purchases of equipment                                        (179,650)            (50,404)
  Additions to capitalized software development costs         (1,091,906)         (2,029,609)
  Proceeds from sale of assets                                         0             225,000
                                                             -----------         -----------
    NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES                     (1,271,556)         (1,855,013)
                                                             -----------         -----------

Cash provided by Financing Activities
  Net borrowings on bank line of credit                        1,047,176             718,055
  Proceeds from (payments on) long-term debt borrowings          (29,218)            473,640
  Proceeds from options and warrants exercised                    23,878              47,054
  Preferred stock dividends paid                                       0             (35,023)
  Proceeds received on notes receivable                                0              13,719
                                                             -----------         -----------
    NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES                  1,041,836           1,217,445
                                                             -----------         -----------

    DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS                       (803,816)           (122,898)

Cash and Cash Equivalents
  Beginning of period                                            928,497             122,898
                                                             -----------         -----------
  End of period                                              $   124,681         $         0
                                                             ===========         ===========
</TABLE>



                                       6
<PAGE>   7
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NOTE 1.  MANAGEMENT STATEMENT

In the opinion of management of the Company, the accompanying unaudited
financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of only normal,
recurring accruals) necessary to present fairly the financial position of the
Company as of June 30, 2001 and the results of operations and cash flows for the
three and nine month periods ended June 30, 2001 and 2000. The results of
operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results
for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2001. These interim financial
statements should be read in conjunction with the Company's annual financial
statements and related notes thereto included in the Company's Form 10-KSB and
Annual Report to shareholders for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2000.


NOTE 2.  SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

REVENUE RECOGNITION: Revenue for sales of the Company's systems is recognized
when it is realized and earned. This generally does not occur until all of the
following are met: persuasive evidence of an arrangement to purchase exists,
delivery has occurred, the price is fixed and collectibility is reasonably
assured. Revenue from extended warranty and service support contracts is
deferred and recognized ratably over the contract period.

CAPITALIZED SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT COSTS: Software development costs incurred
after the establishment of technological feasibility are capitalized. These
costs are amortized to cost of goods sold beginning when the product is first
released for sale to the general public. Amortization is at the greater of the
amount computed using the ratio of current gross revenues for the product to the
total of current and anticipated future gross revenues or the straight-line
method over the remaining estimated economic life of the product (two to five
years).

BASIC AND DILUTED EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE: Basic net earnings (loss) per
common share is computed by dividing net earnings (loss) by the weighted-average
number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted net earnings (loss)
per common share reflects the dilutive effect of stock options and warrants.


NOTE 3.  CORPORATE LIQUIDITY

The Company believes its current cash balances, line of credit, vendor terms,
and anticipated additional investments by John Deere Special Technologies Group,
Inc. ("JDSTG") will provide adequate cash to fund anticipated revenue growth,
operating needs and product development for the foreseeable future. On July 5,
2001, JDSTG acquired 1,314,060 shares of XATA common stock for approximately
$5,000,000, in accordance with the Stock Purchase Agreement dated August 30,
2000, as amended on October 31, 2000, and as supplemented by the Side Agreement
dated December 28, 2000. JDSTG may also, at its option, convert the remaining
balance of a note payable (approximately $750,000 as of August 1, 2001) to
approximately 200,000 shares of XATA common stock between August 1, 2001 and
August 1, 2002 at a price per share of $3.805. In addition, until December 31,
2002, JDSTG has an option to purchase an additional 1,202,940 shares of XATA
common stock at a price per share equal to 82% of the market value of the shares
during the 30 days preceding JDSTG's election to purchase.


                                       7
<PAGE>   8
It is possible that the Company's cash needs may vary significantly from its
predictions, due to failure to generate anticipated cash flow, failure to obtain
the anticipated additional equity funds from JDSTG, or other reasons. No
assurance can be given that the Company's predictions regarding its cash needs
will prove accurate, that the Company will not require additional financing,
that the Company will be able to secure any required additional financing when
needed, or that such financing, if obtained at all, will be on terms favorable
or acceptable to the Company.


                                       8
<PAGE>   9
ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OR PLAN OF OPERATION.

The following discussion and analysis provides information which management
believes is relevant to an assessment and understanding of the Company's results
of operations and financial condition. This discussion should be read in
conjunction with the financial statements in Item 1 and the Company's report on
Form 10-KSB for the year ended September 30, 2000.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

NET SALES. The Company's net sales for the three months ended June 30, 2001 were
$3,651,740, an increase of 12% compared to net sales of $3,255,099 for the three
month period ended June 30, 2000. Net sales for the nine months ended June 30,
2001 increased 10% to $10,240,204 from $9,346,528 in the comparable nine months
ended June 30, 2000. The increase in net sales for the three and nine months
ended June 30, 2001 was due to increased demand for the Company's fleet software
and hardware products, partially offset by reduced software service contract
revenue. The Company anticipates that total revenue for fiscal 2001 will exceed
fiscal 2000 revenue.

GROSS PROFIT. The Company had a gross profit of $970,472 (27% of net sales) for
the three months ended June 30, 2001, compared to a gross profit of $1,162,443
(36% of net sales) for the same period in 2000. Gross profit for the nine months
ended June 30, 2001 decreased to $3,393,653 (33% of net sales) compared to
$3,808,660 (41% of net sales) for the same period in 2000. The decrease in gross
profit percentage in the current year was primarily due to a decrease in
high-margin software service contract revenue, as well as increased amortization
expense associated with the Company's recently released software products.

OPERATING EXPENSES. Operating expenses include research and development, selling
expenses and general and administrative expenses. Total operating expenses were
$1,891,120 (52% of net sales) for the three month period ended June 30, 2001
compared to $997,977 (31% of net sales) for the comparable prior year period.
Operating expenses for the nine months ended June 30, 2001 were $4,462,781 (44%
of net sales) compared to $3,080,909 (33% of net sales) in the same prior year
period.

Operating expenses other than research and development were $1,131,395 (31% of
net sales) for the three month period ended June 30, 2001 compared to $951,272
(29% of net sales) for the comparable prior year period. The nine month totals
were $3,196,442 (31% of net sales) and $2,942,711 (31% of net sales)
respectively. The Company expects operating expenses other than research and
development for fiscal 2001 to be higher than during fiscal 2000 due primarily
to increased staffing to manage anticipated growth.

Research and development expenses during the three and nine-month periods ended
June 30, 2001 were $759,725 and $1,266,339 respectively. Research and
development expenses in the comparable 2000 periods were $46,705 and $138,198
respectively. As planned, the Company is utilizing proceeds from the August 2000
equity investment by JDSTG for development of its XataNet, Onvoy and Fleet
Enterprise products. Software development costs are capitalized after the
establishment of technological feasibility of new products and later amortized
to cost of goods sold based on the anticipated useful life of the product. The
useful life of each product is determined based upon its anticipated future net
revenues. In the three month period ended June 30, 2001, the Company did not
capitalize any software development expenditures because the expenditures were
on products that have not fully attained technological feasibility. In addition,
the Company reduced capitalized software development costs by approximately
$44,000, the amount funded by a third party, and reclassified approximately
$108,000 from capitalized software development costs to other asset categories
for costs that had been erroneously classified. Software development costs of
$1,091,906 were capitalized in the nine month period ended June 30, 2001,
compared


                                       9
<PAGE>   10
to $2,331,609 (which includes a non-cash expense of $302,000) in the comparable
prior year period. The Company anticipates total expenditures for research and
development and capitalized software development for fiscal 2001 will be greater
than fiscal 2000.

NON-OPERATING INCOME AND EXPENSE. Interest expense for the three-month period
ended June 30, 2001 was $68,398 compared to $57,001 in the comparable prior year
period. Interest expense for the nine months ended June 30, 2001 and 2000 was
$194,047 and $124,920 respectively. The increase in interest expense in the
current year was due to the Company's increased utilization of its bank line of
credit. The Company has a minimum interest commitment on its line of credit and
manages its cash and line of credit balances accordingly. Interest income for
the three and nine-month periods ended June 30, 2001 was $7,320 and $37,438
respectively, compared to $425 and $2,292 in the comparable prior year periods.
The increase in interest income in the current year was due to interest earned
on the remaining proceeds from the investment by JDSTG in August 2000.

On June 30, 2001 the Company recorded a one-time charge of $400,000 to write off
Desktop Dispatch Pro (DDPro), a non-core software product remaining from the
fiscal 1999 Payne and Associates divestiture. The Company took this action
because it was no longer offering the product to customers and has determined
the DDPro product line to have limited value to any potential acquirer. The
DDPro asset was considered to be "held for sale" and was included in capitalized
software development costs.

INCOME TAXES. No income tax benefit was recorded for the three or nine-month
periods ended June 30, 2001. During the three month period ended June 30, 2000,
the Company re-evaluated the valuation allowance it had previously established
on its deferred tax assets. At that time the Company believed it would realize
an income tax benefit for a larger portion of its net operating loss
carryforward. The Company recorded an increase to its net deferred tax asset of
$220,000 to reflect its estimate of the amount it believed more likely than not
to be realized. Realization of deferred tax assets is dependent on future
taxable income during the periods when deductible temporary differences and
carryforwards are expected to be available to reduce taxable income. The amount
of the net deferred tax asset considered realizable could be reduced in the
future if actual future taxable income is lower than estimated, or if there are
differences in the timing or amount of future reversals of existing taxable
temporary differences.

NET EARNINGS (LOSS). Net loss for the three month period ended June 30, 2001 was
$1,374,418 compared to net earnings of $302,056 for the three month period ended
June 30, 2000. Net loss for the nine month period ended June 30, 2001 was
$1,588,781 compared to net earnings of $830,927 for the nine month period ended
June 30, 2000. The decrease in net earnings was primarily due to increased
research and development expense in the current year, reduced gross profit
resulting from lower software service contract revenue in the current year,
increased software amortization expense, the write-off of the DDPro product in
the current year, and the deferred tax benefit recorded in the prior year.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

At June 30, 2001, the Company had working capital of $516,823 compared to
working capital of $2,088,439 at September 30, 2000. The decrease in working
capital is due to the decrease in cash and increase in the bank line of credit
resulting from the significant investment in the development of the Company's
new software and hardware products since the beginning of the fiscal year, as
well as the net loss for the nine-month period ending June 30, 2001.

Cash used in operating activities during the nine months ended June 30, 2001
totaled $574,096 compared to cash provided by operating activities of $514,670
for the same period a year ago. Cash used in operating

                                       10
<PAGE>   11
activities for the nine months ended June 30, 2001 was primarily the result of
an increase in inventory of $752,426 due to slower than anticipated revenue
growth of the Company's private fleet products, as well as the net loss for the
period. Non-cash depreciation and amortization expenses totaled $1,034,269 for
the nine months ended June 30, 2001.

Cash used in investing activities was $1,271,556 for the nine month period
ending June 30, 2001 compared to $1,855,013 during the same period last year.
The decrease in cash used in investing activities was primarily due to the
capitalization of a lower amount of software development expenditures. The
Company capitalizes its software development activities only after achieving
technological feasibility. Development expenditures before achieving
technological feasibility are treated as research and development expense as
they are incurred.

Cash provided by financing activities was $1,041,836 during the nine months
ended June 30, 2001 compared to $1,217,445 during the same period a year ago.
The decrease was primarily due to the Company utilizing the remaining cash
proceeds from the August 2000 JDSTG equity investment in lieu of additional
external financing to fund its new product development activities.

In the three month period ended June 30, 2001, the Company completed a non-cash
transaction to exchange 12,155 shares of the Company's common stock as payment
in full of a note receivable in the amount of $61,281.

The Company believes its current cash balances, line of credit, vendor terms,
and anticipated additional investments by JDSTG will provide adequate cash to
fund anticipated revenue growth, operating needs and product development for the
foreseeable future. See Note 3 in the Notes to Financial Statements, above. It
is possible that the Company's cash needs may vary significantly from its
predictions, due to failure to generate anticipated cash flow, failure to obtain
the anticipated additional equity funds from JDSTG, or other reasons. No
assurance can be given that the Company's predictions regarding its cash needs
will prove accurate, that the Company will not require additional financing,
that the Company will be able to secure any required additional financing when
needed, or that such financing, if obtained at all, will be on terms favorable
or acceptable to the Company.



FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This document includes forward-looking statements based on current expectations.
Actual results may differ materially. These forward-looking statements involve a
number of risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the receipt and
shipping of new orders for the Company's current products, the timely
introduction and market acceptance of new products, research and development
funding at the levels required and the ability to develop and maintain strategic
partner relationships. See especially Note 3 of Notes to Financial Statements in
this Report on Form 10-QSB.


                                       11
<PAGE>   12
PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1.   LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

         None


ITEM 2.   CHANGES IN SECURITIES

         None


ITEM 3.   DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

         None


ITEM 4.   SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

         None


ITEM 5.   OTHER INFORMATION

         Subsequent Events

         On July 5, 2001, John Deere Special Technologies Group, Inc. ("JDSTG")
         purchased 1,314,060 shares of common stock from the Company at a price
         of $3.805 per share, for gross proceeds of approximately $5,000,000.
         The purchase of shares from the Company is the second of a series of
         four investments that may be made by JDSTG pursuant to the terms of a
         Stock Purchase Agreement dated August 30, 2000, as amended by Amendment
         No. 1 dated October 31, 2000 and Side Agreement dated December 28,
         2000. JDSTG now holds approximately 31% of the outstanding common
         shares of the Company.

         Effective July 5, 2001, Richard L. Bogen replaced Stephen A. Lawrence
         as chairman of the Company's Board of Directors. Mr. Lawrence will
         remain a member of the Board.


ITEM 6.   EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

        Exhibits

        None

        Reports on Form 8-K

        1.   Report on Form 8-K dated July 5, 2001 concerning the additional
             investment by John Deere Special Technologies Group, Inc.


                                       12
<PAGE>   13
SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act, the Registrant
has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized.

Dated:  August 10, 2001                  XATA Corporation
                                         (Registrant)


                                         by:    /s/  John G. Lewis
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             John G. Lewis
                                             Chief Financial Officer
                                             (Signing as Principal Financial
                                             and Accounting Officer and as
                                             Authorized Signatory of Registrant)





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