Asssment of Korean Tractor Manufacturers

[Maka]

I sold hundreds of LG/LS machines and never once had a warrantee claim on an engine that they manufactured under license from Mitsubishi. I have complete faith in LS manufactured products.

 

[Maka]

Hi John. LS was always great to deal with. I know their upper management here in the U.S. and they are good people. Honestly, I can tell you a lot about them but have no idea why the dealer locator is as it is. I will be happy to tell you what I can. I'll send you a PM soon.

 

[Maka]

Thanks TSO.

 

[TSO]

Maka, are you selling a different brand now, or are you out of the biz?

I'm curious what the reasoning is behind this thread ... Are you looking to pickup another brand and getting a feel from folks first?

 

[Maka]

No, I don't sell any brand of CUT at all. However, I have considered getting back involved in some capacity. I have been talking to many friends in the industry including some of the brands discussed here in this thread. I am looking at peoples sentiments, do they match what I feel is the state of things etc.

The industry by the way is not just the CUTS themselves but the wholesale finance, retail finance etc.

Thanks!

 

[TSO]

No, I don't sell any brand of CUT at all. However, I have considered getting back involved in some capacity. I have been talking to many friends in the industry including some of the brands discussed here in this thread. I am looking at peoples sentiments, do they match what I feel is the state of things etc.

The industry by the way is not just the CUTS themselves but the wholesale finance, retail finance etc.

Thanks!

Ok, well which way are you leaning? Orange, Blue, or one of the reds?

 

[hutchman]

I don't fully understand why a mfr. making their own engine (their own home grown design) is so important. I mean when I was thinking about buying my LS R3039, I counted it a major selling point that my Mitsubishi engine was in tons of other industrial equipment around the world used by other big names in the industry. That told me it was a solid engine and if LS fell off the face of the earth I could still get parts for it. And parts should be cheaper and easier to find. I just can't find fault in that. That was a plus in my book. Anyway, that was my thought process for what its worth (less than 2 cents).

 

[rustyshakelford]

LS doesn't offer a large frame HST machine. Looks like they have an incomplete range. Meanwhile, Kioti has added more heavy-framed CUTs to their line-up just this fall. As I understand it, Kioti believes there is an opportunity to do a "land-grab" of market share in the CUT space even as the industry sales volume collapses which is why they successfully have added dealers this year while increasing their parts distribution even in the face of falling industry sales. My tractor was 20k less than Deere, 12K less than Kubota, and 6K less than Massey while offering the best interior cab layout and while building their own equipment (if only they'd go to Delphi weatherpack electrical connectors, sigh). Anyway, good on Kioti.

Ive seen you say your kioti was 20k less than deere. What model were you looking at and how much was it? That is a huge difference. My 55 hp cab tractor with loader was only a few thousand more than a comparable kioti.

Brett

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Ive seen you say your kioti was 20k less than deere. What model were you looking at and how much was it? That is a huge difference. My 55 hp cab tractor with loader was only a few thousand more than a comparable kioti.

Brett

I was shopping the 60hp ish range all HST drives which adds to the cost, and so a Deere 4066R, Kubota L6060, Massey MF1758, Kioti NX6010, and Mahindra 6010. The Mahindra started hard in 30 degree weather and a vent fell off in my hand in the cab so it was out in the first minute of experiencing it.

 

[GManBart]

Agreed, just pointing it out to say that there are still improvements that could be made when compared to the Japanese manufacturers, if indeed Kioti sits atop of the Korean manufacturers.

Sure, but that pretty clearly isn't their target audience because they're trying to be a value brand, not a luxury brand. A nicer cab interior is great, but it doesn't help you do the work better, and raises the price.

It appears the Korean tractor companies are doing the exact same thing that Hyundai and KIA have done in the car world. Start out with basic, solid, machines that drastically undercut their competitors from Japan (Honda, Toyota, and Acura) to build a loyal following, brand recognition, and revenue stream. As they go along, the offer nicer, and nicer machines, and I'm betting eventually their top models will be right there with Kubota, Massey/Iseki, Etc.