What happens to Bobcat when Kioti contract ends?

[whiskywizard]

I'm a prospective Bobcat buyer (CT235) but haven't closed the door on other makes. I'm sure you all know Bobcat is presently manufactured by Daedong as part of a 5 year deal that is in its fourth year. Any thoughts on what it might mean for service and other support if the contract isnt renewed? Kioti is 100% owned by DaeDong so Kioti support will carry on. Should I be considering the Kioti over the Bobcat? I'm wide open to opinions on this...

 

[wallace]

I think your contract deal info is not 100% correct.
I don't think Bobcat would be investing all the money into R&D for the attachments that THEY are now making themselves. Such as all the loaders, mowers, front mounted blowers,snowplows.
My money is invested with Bobcat for the long haul....Ya never know, Bobcats parent company Doosan Infracore Construction Equipment may just own Daedong someday and Kioti maybe in the same mentioned question as you are having right now.

 

[Canada_CT230]

I own a 2009 CT230 and that thought never enters my mind. I'm sure that Bobcat is enjoying the sales of tractors and equipment for them.

Do you own a GM product? Aren't you worried about them going out of business?

Stop worrying and buy a tractor...they are great!

 

[Dmace]

If Bobcat stops selling Daedong tractors, you could always get your parts at a Kioti dealer.

 

[wallace]

And if Kioti stops selling tractors, you can always get your parts at a Bobcat dealer.

 

[Dmace]

And if Kioti stops selling tractors, you can always get your parts at a Bobcat dealer.

True! No matter which color survives, I'm sure you can always get parts from Wallace! :thumbsup:

 

[Gittyup]

This is good for all Kioti and BC owners. And there is LS using Daedong engines, I hear?

 

[milkman636]

..............................Stop worrying and buy a tractor...they are great!

Well said Canada!

 

[whiskywizard]

I think your contract deal info is not 100% correct.

I thought my source was credible, but maybe not. I'd like to hear what the real deal is, if my info is incorrect.

 

[whiskywizard]

I own a 2009 CT230 and that thought never enters my mind. I'm sure that Bobcat is enjoying the sales of tractors and equipment for them.

Do you own a GM product? Aren't you worried about them going out of business?

Stop worrying and buy a tractor...they are great!

The GM parallel is a good example. No, I don't own a GM, and never would, partly because the company may not survive. Long term support is an important consideration for me. I understand that you're not concerned, but you don't say why. I like the Bobcat, and the nearest dealer is a good one too, but i need to understand what will happen if...

 

[whiskywizard]

And if Kioti stops selling tractors, you can always get your parts at a Bobcat dealer.

Hmmm. I agree that I can get Kioti parts if Bobcat stops their support. If Kioti stops building tractors, as Wallace suggests here, then the parts have to come from some other manufacturer. And that manufacturer has to believe there's a market worth tooling up for.

 

[wallace]

From what I had been told by Kioti when I was a Kioti dealer, was that Bobcat has signed a 3 year contract with Daedong. Now that was more than 3 years ago.
When I signed on with Bobcat last April I was told that they had renewed their contract with Daedong and I do not recall if a term length was mentioned.

Kioti does not build tractors. Kioti is just a label on a tractor that is manufactured by Daedong which happens to be the parent company of Kioti.


I don't think ANYONE can give you a truthfull answer if a manufacture will be here for the long haul. Especially given the economy down turn.

 

[wallace]

Hmmm. I agree that I can get Kioti parts if Bobcat stops their support. If Kioti stops building tractors, as Wallace suggests here, then the parts have to come from some other manufacturer. And that manufacturer has to believe there's a market worth tooling up for.

Wow nice job interpreting that one:thumbsup:
Try to help someone out and now you want to drive the bus over someone!

Maybe you need to stick with John Deere they might make it for the long haul. I mean with the billions in bail out they received.

 

[Canada_CT230]

No company is immune to closing its doors. You can't run your life worrying about that kind of stuff. Life is too short and when you die you can't take your tractor anyway. Buy the tractor and enjoy.

 

[Dmace]

The bigger question is how can I access TractorByNet once Microsoft runs out of money and stops making computers!

 

[horticattleman]

My personal suggestion is to not buy a Bobcat or Kioti brand. I have one and I LOVE it, but if you are having this many questions and really are as skeptical as you sound......you'll never be happy. Buy something else so you won't always have that second guess in your head. Just know we got the better tractor, but at least you're not complaining!

 

[qed-cat225]

lets see Bobcat....who is that? Are they the same company that invented the skid steer....sort of, can you still get parts from bobcat for the old wisconsin engines that were in them....i think so, how many kioti dealers do you see vs bobcat? who do you think is the dominate player selling more tractors?

 

[MtnViewRanch]

My personal suggestion is to not buy a Bobcat or Kioti brand. I have one and I LOVE it, but if you are having this many questions and really are as skeptical as you sound......you'll never be happy. Buy something else so you won't always have that second guess in your head. Just know we got the better tractor, but at least you're not complaining!

I have to agree with this statement. If you are this skeptical, you might be best off purchasing a Kubota or John Deere. I know that I was very close to buying a Montana a couple of years ago. The R series is a very nice machine made by LS, but things just didn't feel right and look at Montana now. Go with your gut feeling, and it sounds like the Daedong distributors (Kioti & Bobcat) have you concerned. Get a Kubota or John Deere, spend a few thousand more for the same thing and be able to sleep at night.

JMO

 

[qed-cat225]

But John Deeres are mostly Yanmar, so I guess you better either buy the Kubota or the Cub Cadet

 

[Canada_CT230]

Ya, spend a few thousand more on Green (John Deere), Orange (Kubota), Red (Case IH) or Blue (New Holland). That few thousand will be $10,000. That was the difference in price between my Bobcat and a comparable Case IH. Maybe check the dealers warranty service too. I have had zero problems with warranty issues. Other forum users on here have fought Orange pretty hard and got nowhere. My Orange and Green dealers are a**holes that wouldn't even give me the time of day when I was looking to purchase a tractor. Now the Orange dealer bought out the Red dealership. Thanks God I didn't buy that Case IH. I praise my black, white & orange every time I use it. I just got in from blowing snow for an hour. Tach time says 187 hours on my machine!