Kubota Has a Relationship with Bobcat Company?

Kubota Logo (1)

Competetor machinery companies and products never end!  In is field, there are many competetors, but also allies.  Take Kubota and Bobcat Company for instance.  In the previous blog, Bobcat Company's brief history was summarized and their products described.  But, did you know in older model Bobcat machines and select newer models are made with a Kubota engine?  How can this be?  Review the history below. 

For Earth, For Life

Kubota is is known for their compact equipment

and their wide range of machinery.  They offer

tractors, lawn mowers, walk-behind mowers,

 utility vehicles, construction equipment, hay

 tools, and even spreaders.  

In most situations, Kubota can help.

This short 3 minute video below gives a very 

fast, brief overview of the Kubota history and 

what their company is doing today. Take a look

 at Kubota U.S. 40 Year History Video (2)!

With the brief history of Kubota and Bobcat firmly in your mind, it is easier to see that these two companies have similar products, consumers, and even engines.  The difference between the companies is their engine.  Kubota's engines are well known by their users and competitor companies for excellent performance.  After an extensive search, it is unclear when the Kubota engine was introduced to Bobcat company but all models of Bobcat equipment, until recently, have had the Kubota engine.

Bobcat Skid-Steer Loader (3)

The main concern in the media for both companies is a breaking news.  Bobcat Company will no longer be using Kubota engines in their newer models as they have partnered with their parent company Doosan to reduce emissions and have Tier-4 compliant machines.  Tier-4 is a standard for equipment to be as energy efficient and green as possible under new stipulations.

Below is a screen shot of a statement found on the Bobcat Company website about their new transition from Kubota.

Bobcat Screen shot of Kubota relationship statement (4)

According to an article from The Construction Index online, Bobcat to switch from Kubota to own-brand engines (2014), Kubota will not be supplying Bobcat Company with engines for later models of machinery but will still continue to produce engines and maintain warranties on select machines.

Kubota Engine (6)

"Bobcat will continue to use Kubota engines in selected machines in the range and will provide parts and honour warranties on machines previously sold with Kubota engines.  As Kubota engines represent the largest population of engines in Bobcat machines, the Bobcat dealer network has strong competence in servicing these engines and will continue to service Kubota engines in selected Bobcat products"(5).

To read and learn more about the engine switch from Kubota to Doosan, check out the article here.

Never seen a Kubota engine before?  That picture above and on their Kubota Engine website can walk you through different styles and models they have available.  Check out Kubota's roaring engines.

References 

1.  Kubota Logo.  Retrieved from logosandbrands.directory
2.  Kubota Tractor. (2012)  Kubota U.S. 40 Year History Video.  Retrieved from
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJIqB4ixttE
3.  Bobcat Skid-Steer Loader.  Retrieved from bobcat.com
4.  Bobcat Screen shot of Kubota relationship statement.  Retrieved from  http://www.bobcat.eu/bobcat/innovation-technology/bobcat-engine/bobcat-engine-faq.page? 
5.  The Construction Index (2014).  Bobcat to switch from Kubota to own-brand engines.  Retrieved from http://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/bobcat-to-switch-from-kubota-to-own-brand-engines  

6. Kubota Engine. Retrieved from http://www.kubotaengine.com/