Kioti Warranty Concerns

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

KIOTI tractors and engines sold in North America are manufactured in Korea and China and distributed from its North Carolina and Ontario facilities.

There's no sources for the claims they're making in that article. I welcome any dealers to weigh into this conversation.

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

Kubota is able to market these engines as the leading OEM (original equipment manufacturer) of compact diesel and gasoline engines, all of which are built with agricultural, industrial and construction operations in mind.

This is a true statement. Both Kubota and Yanmar are the leading OEM engine manufacturers for the off road equipment industry. Far as I know Kioti does not sell their engines to other OEM manufacturers besides the relabeled tractors which is still manufactured by Kioti which I don't count.

 

[Alan46]

There's no sources for the claims they're making in that article. I welcome any dealers to weigh into this conversation.

I like your hat bro!

 

[IndyJay]

So if it on the internet its true?

Yeah... I'm surprised he didn't reference Snopes...

 

[IndyJay]

Whoa, conversation took off here.

Bill, Kioti is investing heavily in American operations as well. Not certain how many employees they have here yet, but it's growing fast and they have dozens of current job openings posted. Kubota came sooner to the US, but it doesn't necessarily make them more altruistic or patriotic.

KIOTI Tractor Investing $13M In Expansion Of North American Headquarters

Estimated for completion in late 2019, the expansion will double the size of the company’s existing facilities in Wendell, NC.

businessfacilities.com

Not unlike the Japanese car companies that started out importing all their cars in the 70's. Look at all of the US manufacturing (and assembly) plants having the Toyota, Honda, Mazda banner. Kubota didn't launch assembly plants in the US when they first entered the US market either.

 

[IndyJay]

This is a true statement. Both Kubota and Yanmar are the leading OEM engine manufacturers for the off road equipment industry. Far as I know Kioti does not sell their engines to other OEM manufacturers besides the relabeled tractors which is still manufactured by Kioti which I don't count.

Are you limiting your comment solely to "Kioti" or are you including "Daedong"?
I know you said that you don't count tractors built by them but here is a sampling:

List of tractors built by Daedong for other companies

This is a list of tractors built by Daedong for other companies.

tractors.fandom.com

 

[DK35vince]

People choose the Kubota clone for one reason, because it’s cheaper. They have to cut some corners somewhere.

I bought due to value.
I was looking at a Kioti DK 35 and the Kubota models were the L3010 and L3410.
The fit/finish/quality looked every bit as good to me on the Kioti DK as the Kubota models I was comparing.
The DK 35 included rear remotes, extendable sway bars, extendable lower link arms, draft control and mid PTO (all were options on the 3010/3410).
And the price was still lower than the Kubota models even after I added the optional SSQA and heavy duty bucket.
That was 22 years ago and my Kioti has been an excellent tractor.
If I had it to do all over again I would pick the same machine

 

[IndyJay]

Phillip Crosby (Quality is Free) asked the question, "Which is a better quality watch, a Timex or Rolex"?
Spoiler alert... it came down to "conformance to requirements". Both provide the owner with the correct time.

I drove both the Kubota L4701 and the DK4510 (that I wound up buying).
The difference was night and day, and not just in cost.

How many Kioti's has Bill driven, or even looked closely at?

 

[Midniteoyl]

There's no sources for the claims they're making in that article. I welcome any dealers to weigh into this conversation.

There is a Daedong China, established in 2007 in Anhui province. This center manufactures combine harvesters and rice transplanters for the Chinese market, not the US.

I mean, there is a China Kubota as well, Kubota Agricultural Machinery (SUZHOU) Co., Ltd. Engineering Department | Innovation | Kubota Global Site , so we could say that Kubotas are also 'made in China'. Funny how thats never mentioned on sites trying to sway you into Kubotas like they always do, out of context, for Kioti.

China is well know for making OEMs open a local plant and distribution centers if they want to sell there.

 

[Midniteoyl]

I like your hat bro!

Ballad of Buster Scruggs

 

[IndyJay]

Ballad of Buster Scruggs

Best not argue with Cahaba...

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

Kioti tractors are made in Korea and China. Kubota tractors are made in Georgia, US. Most likely the cost cutting is in payroll. I'll pay more for made in America.

Only SOME of kubota stuff is made OR just assembled in Georgia. Their own site specifies "lawn tractors, subcompacts, utility vehicles, loaders and backhoes." The engines and tractors larger than 25 hp are manufactured in Japan and only assembled in the US.

LS tractor parts are made in S. Korea and are assembled in the USA in multiple locations.

Kioti tractors are manufactured in S.Korea, and final assembly here in the US.

 

[TN8Man]

Production of tractors starting in China​

Kubota Corporation (hereinafter "Kubota") will begin the mass production of tractors at its local subsidiary in China, Kubota Agricultural Machinery (SUZHOU) Co., Ltd. (hereinafter "KAMS"), in January 2013. By establishing a local manufacturing operation, Kubota will improve its cost competitiveness, strengthen our ability to react quicker to market demands and ultimately increase tractor sales in the Chinese market.

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

Best not argue with Cahaba...

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

Ballad of Buster Scruggs

Now Midnite you messing me up over here. No need to go bragging to the community here about my gun slinging days in the wild wild west. I'm trying to keep a low profile these days

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

Are you limiting your comment solely to "Kioti" or are you including "Daedong"?

Yeah sorry I meant Daedong.

I know you said that you don't count tractors built by them but here is a sampling:

List of tractors built by Daedong for other companies

This is a list of tractors built by Daedong for other companies.

tractors.fandom.com

That's interesting as I was not aware they were working with so many different OEMS. I knew about Bobcat and Badboy but not the others. Do you know if they have worked with the construction industry?

 

[IndyJay]

Yeah sorry I meant Daedong.


That's interesting as I was not aware they were working with so many different OEMS. I knew about Bobcat and Badboy but not the others. Do you know if they have worked with the construction industry?

Search on "Kioti skid steer" and you will see several stories and videos inlcluding this one from a year ago.

Kioti to introduce CTLs and skid steers to dealers in 2021

Designed, engineered and manufactured by Kioti, the new compact track loader and skid steer will give dealers the opportunity to serve a larger, new market.

www.equipmentworld.com

 

[Bill Guenthner]

Production of tractors starting in China​

Kubota Corporation (hereinafter "Kubota") will begin the mass production of tractors at its local subsidiary in China, Kubota Agricultural Machinery (SUZHOU) Co., Ltd. (hereinafter "KAMS"), in January 2013. By establishing a local manufacturing operation, Kubota will improve its cost competitiveness, strengthen our ability to react quicker to market demands and ultimately increase tractor sales in the Chinese market.

Well, duh. They make them in China to sell in China.

 

[ovrszd]

Ok I am going to chime in here for a second. I'm not here to beat up Kubota but let's be honest, Kubota has had quite a few engineering disasters. And when they have had these disasters Kubota can't seem to get them fixed. Additionally, I have heard very similar reports that Kubota has tried to weasel out of warranty claims from customers also. So I'm not convinced that Kubota is better.

Right here on TBN you can find posts of manufacturers (pick a brand) trying to weasel out of warranty claims. You can also find posts of manufacturers (pick a brand) that has had a few engineering disasters.

What we are talking about here is "odds". The odds are more in your favor with a more reputable brand. It takes decades to change that.

Not sure how old you are, I'm 70, I can clearly remember when Kubota was thought of as a cheap Japanese brand that couldn't be relied on to perform reliably. They overcame that with quality reliable product.

 

[ovrszd]

Please clarify this statement. I want to make sure I fully understand you.

If you could gather all of the product data on every brand of tractor, then analyze the good against the bad for reliability, quality, support, availability, etc., you would find the brands listed in order of preference. Who would be in the top three?