Bobcat Compact Tractor

[davitk]

The new Bobcat CUT (say Kioti) is here, well, almost. 21, 25 and 30 hp 3 cylinder white red and black tractors......

Anybody here think it would be dumb to be the first guy to get one dirty?

 

[canoetrpr]

What I am wondering about is whether or not the market is growing enough to sustain all the newer brands - Kioti, Mahindra, Bobcat, CubCadet/Yanmar.

I would doubt that it is growing that much year over year so most of them will have to compete for existing big 3 customers.

I wonder how many of the new brands will last 10-15 years from now.

 

[IslandTractor]

The new Bobcat CUT (say Kioti) is here, well, almost. 21, 25 and 30 hp 3 cylinder white red and black tractors......

Anybody here think it would be dumb to be the first guy to get one dirty?

They are built by Kioti and virtually identical to the Kioti CK20, CK25 and CK30's except for paint and FEL. Assembled in the same factory. The Kioti's are excellent and there are lots of them out there already. Not much of a risk except for the FEL. I don't think the loader is as strong as the one sold by Kioti but if you like white rather than orange I don't think there is much risk.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

What I am wondering about is whether or not the market is growing enough to sustain all the newer brands - Kioti, Mahindra, Bobcat, CubCadet/Yanmar.

I would doubt that it is growing that much year over year so most of them will have to compete for existing big 3 customers.

I wonder how many of the new brands will last 10-15 years from now.

If you had any idea how many people are constantly looking for cheaper new or good used compact tractors then you would know the market is there for these brands to come in. Sell their machines cheap the first couple years to help establish the brand then slowly raise the price much like all newer companies do. I think the new Cub Cadet/Yanmar line will sell well, Kioti and Mahindra seem to be doing well and Bobcat is just about to get started. If these companies have smart tractor people making decisions then they should do ok. One other important thing is to make sure there is a good dealer network and keep tractors on the lot for customers to see in person.

When Mahindra had its first dealership open up here people who have never owned a new tractor in their life decided they could afford the Mahindra as it was considerably cheaper then comparable JD, CNH and Kubota tractors here.

 

[davitk]

I do have a birthday coming up......

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

If you had any idea how many people are constantly looking for cheaper new or good used compact tractors then you would know the market is there for these brands to come in. Sell their machines cheap the first couple years to help establish the brand then slowly raise the price much like all newer companies do. I think the new Cub Cadet/Yanmar line will sell well, Kioti and Mahindra seem to be doing well and Bobcat is just about to get started. If these companies have smart tractor people making decisions then they should do ok. One other important thing is to make sure there is a good dealer network and keep tractors on the lot for customers to see in person.

This is true, however people do seem to overlook that companies do come AND go in this business all the time. These are not the first, they won't be the last, and they all won't survive long term. This is not a growth industry any more, I'm also surprised to see Bob Cat taking a crack at it, especialy considering that some of the other products that they've handled this way have not gone so well for them. I think the Cub/Yanmar thing could really workout long term. Both companies have the reputation to really make an impact.

 

[kozak]

I do have a birthday coming up......

Sure is purdy but they painted the wheels the wrong colour. Other than that, sharp looking tractor. What kind of warranty does it come with ??

Vic

 

[davitk]

Sketchy info, so far. According to dealer 24 mos or 2,000 hrs full, 36 mos or 2,000 hours driveline. Kioti offers 48 mos driveline for the same tractor.....

 

[Robert_in_NY]

This is true, however people do seem to overlook that companies do come AND go in this business all the time. These are not the first, they won't be the last, and they all won't survive long term. This is not a growth industry any more, I'm also surprised to see Bob Cat taking a crack at it, especialy considering that some of the other products that they've handled this way have not gone so well for them. I think the Cub/Yanmar thing could really workout long term. Both companies have the reputation to really make an impact.

Hi Neil, I was surprised when I heard Bobcat was going to sell compact tractors also. I have always liked the Bobcat brand of mini excavators and as a result kind of been rooting for them with the rest of their products. So I do hope these new tractors sell well but I have my doubts as in this area the only local Bobcat dealer has recently started selling Kubota tractors and has been investing and expanding heavily in that venture. I would be surprised to see a Bobcat tractor for sale there as they don't even have much in the way of Bobcat skidsteers or excavators (the last time I went by there was one of each in the side lot). If I recall, most of the big Bobcat dealers are located in the cities which seems to work for selling construction equipment but I wonder how it works for selling compact tractors.

 

[Cliff_Johns]

Just to make it clear, Bobcat was sold to the company that makes Kioti tractors. It only makes sense for them to sell tractors now that look, feel and taste like Kioti tractors.

Cliff

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I couldn't remember if Bobcat was sold to the company that owned Kioti or a company that was business partners with Kioti's parent company. Thanks for clearing it up.

 

[rpoage]

Would not surprise me if Kubota jumped into the Bobcat skid steer or excavators market deaper. If Bobcat can enter into SCUT's and CUT's it only makes sense. Point may come where dealers who have had both franchises will have to make some tuff decisions as I doubt these companies will allow both franchises under the same roof.

 

[Maka]

Just to make it correct. Bobcat sold to Doosan (who bought Daewoo) and with the aquision of Bobcat makes Doosan one of the largest heavy equipment manufacturers in the world. I think it moved them from number 7 spot to number 4 spot but would have to go back and verify this. A different manufacturer called Daedong is the manufacturer of Kioti and owns the Kioti brand. Doosan has an agreement with Daedong to manufacture the Bobcat tractors.

Now, many, many Kubota dealers are also Bobcat dealers and or vise/versa. In one of our area's we have along established Kubota dealer who is also a large Bobcat dealer. What will they carry???

Kubota dealer I am speaking of has a really bad attitude and has told people over the years how bad Kioti is. Will they now carry a tractor branded Bobcat that they know is good but trashed for years. If they did I would love for the Kioti dealer to just go after that.

I think that it will be interesting but for me I would buy the Kioti brand over the Bobcat brand just because I would rather deal with dealers who have direct manufacturer support.

Maka

 

[AndyMA]

I many areas dealers carry both New Holland and Kubota. If they can carry 2 of the big 3, I don't expect there will be any problem with them carrying a small player.

andy

 

[Maka]

This is the same here. We have 2 dealers of Kubota/NH and then 1 dealer who is Kubota/Bobcat (not NH). The problem with this is that the Kubota/Bobcat dealer I refer to have over time really ripped the Kioti dealer. I mean really hard.

Another sticker is that Kubota was in on the bidding for Bobcat and lost to the Koreans. I see this as a problem for dealers of Kubota. Kioti has been an ever growing thorn in Kubota dealers side and I bet the Kubota/Bobcat (some probably will) dealers for the most part won't now put the Daedong manufactured Bobcats on the lot. I mayt be wrong but I bet this is a burr in the saddle of Kubota and its dealers.

Any Kubota/Bobcat dealers want to chime in on this?

Maka

 

[davitk]

I spoke with my Bobcat dealer on Friday, he said that the 'programs' Bobcat compact tractors will carry will mirror Kubota's.... sounds like fightin' words to me!!

 

[AndyMA]

I spoke with my Bobcat dealer on Friday, he said that the 'programs' Bobcat compact tractors will carry will mirror Kubota's.... sounds like fightin' words to me!!

They would have to be at least as good to make any impact. With Kubota having such a large market share and Bobcat having none in this space it will take Bobcat a long time to have much impact. Simply mirroring Kubota's plans won't have much impact unless the price is substancially less.

Andy

 

[Cliff_Johns]

Bobcat sold to Doosan (who bought Daewoo) and with the aquision of Bobcat makes Doosan one of the largest heavy equipment manufacturers in the world. I think it moved them from number 7 spot to number 4 spot but would have to go back and verify this. A different manufacturer called Daedong is the manufacturer of Kioti and owns the Kioti brand. Doosan has an agreement with Daedong to manufacture the Bobcat tractors.

Ok, my mistake. The various tractor company's intricate agreements/purchases of each other are really amazing to follow. I was under the impression that daewoo owned Daedong before they were bought by Doosan, but apparently that's incorrect.

Cliff

 

[davitk]

Tried the white-sheeted Kioti, too cramped for my tastes. Back to the Kubota.

 

[IXLR8]

Hmmm... I found the Kubota too cramped for me and I am going back to the Kioti.