Yanmar Corporate Call

2manyrocks · Nov 10, 2023

yanmar has been making diesel engines for a very long time. I don't foresee them stopping unless diesel engines get outlawed.

The private label tractors that have been made, sold, and then abandoned without any service network are the ones that I'd be the most concerned about because it seems like neither the companies that marketed them nor the actual manufacturers seem to care about long term support.

aesanders · Nov 10, 2023

I think what most people aren’t factoring in about Yanmar, is that for years they had some of the best selling cuts/subcuts in the US. They were just painted green and yellow. My JD for instance is 100% Yanmar made in Japan. When John Deere decided they would start building the majority of their own CUTS/subcuts (still slapping in a Yanmar engine), Yanmar struck a deal with cub Cadet, thinking it would continue their tractor sales in the US all without having to establish their own dealer network. That didn’t work out like the original John Deere agreement and hence Yanmar sales for cuts/subcuts crashed in the US.

I do think they are now starting to realize they need to sell them as Yanmar under their own dealerships, but had ignored that part of the equation for a long time. Establishing dealers is hard to do, and their product line is not broad enough. I do believe they are wanting to take this market seriously, but they have a ways to go to get to where they need to be.

Lastkidpicked · Nov 10, 2023

There's a way Yanmar can get into a dealership network, and that is by copying Kubota step by step.

Many Ford-New Holland dealers picked up Kubota as a side brand when Ford sold New Holland. If you drive past New Holland dealers today, you can often see the faded signs that say "New Holland-Kubota" on the dealership sign. In fact, my manure spreader has a tag on it that says "Ford -New Holland - Kubota"

Yanmar could do the exact same thing. Partner up with New Holland. That way a New Holland dealer would have the big blue equipment for the ag side, and the red Yanmar equipment for the compact side.

aesanders · Nov 11, 2023

Lastkidpicked said:
There's a way Yanmar can get into a dealership network, and that is by copying Kubota step by step.

Many Ford-New Holland dealers picked up Kubota as a side brand when Ford sold New Holland. If you drive past New Holland dealers today, you can often see the faded signs that say "New Holland-Kubota" on the dealership sign. In fact, my manure spreader has a tag on it that says "Ford -New Holland - Kubota"

Yanmar could do the exact same thing. Partner up with New Holland. That way a New Holland dealer would have the big blue equipment for the ag side, and the red Yanmar equipment for the compact side.

Right now CNH is partnered up with LS. Not sure they would move away from that relationship, but anything is possible.

Torvy · Nov 11, 2023

aesanders said:
Right now CNH is partnered up with LS. Not sure they would move away from that relationship, but anything is possible.

LS builds for CNH, but many (most?) CNH dealers also sell other brands. Messicks is a CNH/Kubota dealer. Around here the nearest CNH dealers also sell Mahindra.

Tomtint · Nov 11, 2023

I bought a new Minix back in July, Took a look at the Yanmar and decided against it for a couple reasons. One being that I did not have a great deal of confidence that the dealer would be there in 2 or 3 years. The machine itself was decent and had good specs that were as good or better than the Kubota and Bobcat ( I ended up with the Bobcat ) ... But I was just more confident that I would have better dealer support should the need arise.

CloverKnollFarms · Nov 11, 2023

CNH has said recently they are strengthening their relationship with LS to improve their CUT/SCUT portfolio.

aesanders · Nov 11, 2023

Torvy said:
LS builds for CNH, but many (most?) CNH dealers also sell other brands. Messicks is a CNH/Kubota dealer. Around here the nearest CNH dealers also sell Mahindra.

Yes, I know, but what the dealer does has nothing to do with CNH corporate. I would love to see Yanmar added on with more established dealers. They are far too good to have people not consider them because of lack of good dealers.

Torvy · Nov 11, 2023

aesanders said:
Yes, I know, but what the dealer does has nothing to do with CNH corporate. I would love to see Yanmar added on with more established dealers. They are far too good to have people not consider them because of lack of good dealers.

That is what I was saying, But, not what you said before. You brought up CNH relationship with LS.. The LS relationship with CNH has zero to do with dealerships selling other brands. Well, maybe not zero. I don't know if any CNH dealership also sells LS because they would have too many of the same models.

Regardless, unless or until CNH acts like JD and forces dealers to shed other brands, Yanmar could just as easily replace the Mahindra or Kubota partnerships at some dealers.

Yander · Nov 12, 2023

This looks like a clean low hour tractor for someone in NC.

Tractorable · Nov 13, 2023

My advice to Yanmar:

1) Continue expanding marketing and dealer network
2) Offer the YT3 and YM3 series in a standard HST
3) Build a tractor that's in the sweet spot between the YT235 and YT347, ~70in wheelbase, ~3000lb, HST
4) Offer the YT2 in 25hp and 40hp variants

My next tractor will be a Yanmar. Love their history and quality.

tacticalturnip · Nov 13, 2023

If they did #4... I mean, I love my Kioti, but...

Williy · Nov 17, 2023

Not sure but did someone say tym is building tractors for Yanmar??

The agreement builds upon the existing cooperation between Yanmar and TYM groups, where Yanmar supplies its powerful and reliable TNV diesel engines to TYM for their range of sub compact and compact tractors.

willy

ptsg · Nov 17, 2023

Williy said:
Not sure but did someone say tym is building tractors for Yanmar??

The agreement builds upon the existing cooperation between Yanmar and TYM groups, where Yanmar supplies its powerful and reliable TNV diesel engines to TYM for their range of sub compact and compact tractors.

willy

You can read a little bit more about it here Williy:

TYM signs ODM agreement with Yanmar America, to begin supplying tractors in 2023

- TYM and Yanmar to offer a more diversified and expanded product lineup with all-new 37 and 74 hp tractors. - TYM plans to actively respond to customer needs in North America by supplying products that meet higher standards - The mutually beneficial...

tym.world

kevin37b · Nov 17, 2023

Must be winter !

Yander · Nov 17, 2023

Should be interesting to hear what Yanmar/TYM partnership turns into.

Helogabals · Nov 18, 2023

I am wondering why should a weekend warrior with CUT need a dealer ?

to change the oil and filters? If you don't do it by yourself, this can be done in any shop.

We are a bit spoiled here, EU regulation says, guarantee can't be terminated just because maintenance personnel is wearing other colors. BTW it applies on cars too. For instance a lot of people service their Audis at VW sc. Even "no official" service centers can do the job, they just has to follow procedures of manufacturer, keep records, etc.

And a as a result of open competition a lot of dealers offer mobile services. I dont care how long service ranger has traveled. If they can combine 5 - 10 tractors for same area, it is pure win for everybody. Good, reasonable priced service, no matter how far dealer's office is. And I mean, it's not hard to combine. It's not deadly if oil is changed at 240 - 250 - 260 hours

To order spare parts? I prefer to do it myself on some online platform. Really. Just keep prices down

the only thing where the dealer is needed is warranty works

I think the need for a dealer is more because it always has been like that.
Lets look at Tesla's business model, without dealers, and it seems very appropriate to me. OK, probably Yanmar's lack of dealers is not because they are trying to be very modern

But still, IMHO you are overestimating importance of dealership

~~~~~~~~

Big farmers are different story, but I mean, Yanmar is not present in that 300hp tractor market

California · Nov 19, 2023

Helogabals said:
I am wondering why should a weekend warrior with CUT need a dealer ?

to change the oil and filters? If you don't do it by yourself, this can be done in any shop.

To order spare parts? I prefer to do it myself on some online platform. Really. Just keep prices down

the only thing where the dealer is needed is warranty works

I think the need for a dealer is more because it always has been like that.
Lets look at Tesla's business model, without dealers, and it seems very appropriate to me. OK, probably Yanmar's lack of dealers is not because they are trying to be very modern
But still, IMHO you are overestimating importance of dealership

The US Yanmars sold here 40 years ago were 'world' models designed to run for years under primitive conditions and maintained only by the owner. Works for me!

Examples that are covered in the YM240 operation manual: operating without a battery. Fuel spec limited to a tablespoon of debris per 5 gallons. Nothing that you couldn't fix if you have ordinary shop tools - a socket set and torque wrench etc.

I've reached 20 years experience now with no dealer support for my 1980 Yanmars, and there's nothing a farmer or at most an auto shop couldn't easily fix. Why can't they have more models like this today, that don't need a dealer nearby?

Repairing gross user abuse, nothing reflecting Yanmar quality, is the extent of my repair experience over 20 years. On Yanmars that were 20 years old when I bought them.

(photo below).

tacticalturnip · Nov 19, 2023

California said:
The US Yanmars sold here 40 years ago were 'world' models designed to run for years under primitive conditions and maintained only by the owner. Works for me!

Examples that are covered in the YM240 operation manual: operating without a battery. Fuel spec limited to a tablespoon of debris per 5 gallons. Nothing that you couldn't fix if you have ordinary shop tools - a socket set and torque wrench etc.

I've reached 20 years experience now with no dealer support for my 1980 Yanmars, and there's nothing a farmer or at most an auto shop couldn't easily fix. Why can't they have more models like this today, that don't need a dealer nearby?

Repairing gross user abuse, nothing reflecting Yanmar quality, is the extent of my repair experience over 20 years. On Yanmars that were 20 years old when I bought them.

(photo below).

That is really cool.

diesel466 · Nov 19, 2023

After owning several Yanmar built john deeres, I bought a Yanmar tractor,a Ex3200, It turned into a nightmare. At the time we had 5 dealers near by, all of them are gone now. Of those 5 dealers one had any idea on how to work on a tractor. They need quality dealers and they need to back them up if they are going to be a real player in the market.