This came up in another thread in another forum, that (I guess) has been closed and now entirely deleted...the part about Kioti being a knock-off of Kubota. In the past there have been Kioti dealers claim that the Kiotis are the same as Kubotas, just an economy version, or any other of a number of relationships. I first heard this from a joint Kubota/Case/Kioti dealership when I was in college, and it has been a prevalent rumor again and again. So that brings me to my question...
...if Kioti is a Kubota knock-off, which Kubota models are the victims of the knock-off. Which Kubota models "cross" to the LK series, DK series and CK series. The LKs don't really look like any Kubotas; the DK 35, 40, 45, 50 have some similarities to the Kubota Grand L series, but they seem to be skin deep (4 wheels, headlights, orange, etc.). The DK 55 and 65 don't look anything like a Kubota (neither does the upcoming 45). The CK series don't really remind me any Kubotas either. If some claims are true, and the Kiotis are cheap imitations of Kubotas, which models were the victims of reverse engineering. Or is it merely that there are some sheetmetal similarities, a shade of orange and a "K" in the name that drive this question? I'll admit - if I'm driving down the road and see an orange tractor at a distance in the field, I can't swear that it is Kubota or Kioti. Of course, if its blue I can't tell if its Ford/NH or Long; if red, and I can't tell if it's Massey or International or maybe even Mahindra. So anyway, I thought that I would ask the Kubota experts (and likely get roasted - but I hope I get my answers before we get this thread edited/closed/deleted). Thanks for the help.
...if Kioti is a Kubota knock-off, which Kubota models are the victims of the knock-off. Which Kubota models "cross" to the LK series, DK series and CK series. The LKs don't really look like any Kubotas; the DK 35, 40, 45, 50 have some similarities to the Kubota Grand L series, but they seem to be skin deep (4 wheels, headlights, orange, etc.). The DK 55 and 65 don't look anything like a Kubota (neither does the upcoming 45). The CK series don't really remind me any Kubotas either. If some claims are true, and the Kiotis are cheap imitations of Kubotas, which models were the victims of reverse engineering. Or is it merely that there are some sheetmetal similarities, a shade of orange and a "K" in the name that drive this question? I'll admit - if I'm driving down the road and see an orange tractor at a distance in the field, I can't swear that it is Kubota or Kioti. Of course, if its blue I can't tell if its Ford/NH or Long; if red, and I can't tell if it's Massey or International or maybe even Mahindra. So anyway, I thought that I would ask the Kubota experts (and likely get roasted - but I hope I get my answers before we get this thread edited/closed/deleted). Thanks for the help.