Country of origin?

homeinOR · May 11, 2005

Just looking at JD website and checking facts on my new 4110 and noticed as is the case with 2110 that country of origin is Japan. I know motor is Yanmar, but is entire tractor assembled in Japan? Is Kubota (assembled in USA) more American than good ole Deere? Say it ain't so! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

garchib · May 11, 2005

I own a 4100 and it is 100 % made by Yanmar for John Deere. This is not a bad thing though, because it has shown to be far more reliable than some of the John Deere 4200-4700 units that have had issues documented on this board.

FordTruckGuy · May 11, 2005

I went through similar issues as you when I purchased my Deere 790; that is, whether it was manufactured/assembled in Japan.

I never got a good answer either. The best you can hope is that the tractor is in part assembled in Georgia, at a plant Deere has there. The Deere/Yanmar relationship goes back to the 1970s, and has proved to be a great business partnership.

Kubota manufactures (I should say full assembly) its BX and B series tractors, as well as smaller lawn tractors, in Gainesville, Georgia. Kubota USA also has a plant in California, with several distribution centers throughout the USA, such as Ohio, and other. My experience is that Kubota likes to say it is more American than John Deere, but my bet is that both OEMs stories are similar -- fabrication in Japan, part assembly in the US, with it varying by CUT model as to just how much assembly.

I think you have to get into some of the larger Deere tractors, maybe even as high as 8000 series, to have one fully built in the USA. The 5000 and 6000 are made in India, if I am not mistaken.

Bob_Skurka · May 11, 2005

Is Kubota (assembled in USA) more American than good ole Deere? Say it ain't so! 

Consider this one point, while the Kubota may be assembled here from parts made in Japan, the profits go back to Japan. Depending on the model, a JD may be assembled there or here, but the profits come back to a company based in Illinois and are dispursed through that community. Last time I checked, Illinois was still part of the USA.

FordTruckGuy · May 11, 2005

Amen.

Tractors4u · May 11, 2005

( I went through similar issues as you when I purchased my Deere 790; that is, whether it was manufactured/assembled in Japan.

I never got a good answer either. )

Here is the LINK I believe you where you asked the question. I thought it was answered with the attached picture.

The picture is somewhat distorted after resizing, but it says Yanmar Agricultural Machinary Japan. The 790 and 990 are decendants of the original X50 series John Deeres and are built by Yanmar.

garchib · May 11, 2005

I am all for supporting American companies, but let's face it, it is a global economy today and it is VERY difficult to only buy American, as parts, metal, paint, motors, accessories come from all over, based on a variety of decisions at the corporate level (i.e. John Deere will buy from any manufacturer if they can do it with quality, cheaper than JD themselves could do it).

FordTruckGuy · May 11, 2005

Brent, my comment was in reference to uncertainty that the 90 series was assembled in Geogia. That they are Yanmar/Japanese fabrications is without a doubt.

I always say, buy American if you can.

Tractors4u · May 12, 2005

( was in reference to uncertainty that the 90 series was assembled in Geogia )

If anything, it is just final details like mounting the wheels and ROPS.

MadReferee · May 12, 2005

( Consider this one point, while the Kubota may be assembled here from parts made in Japan, the profits go back to Japan. Depending on the model, a JD may be assembled there or here, but the profits come back to a company based in Illinois and are dispursed through that community. Last time I checked, Illinois was still part of the USA. )

Not so fast.

Kubota Corp (NYSE:KUB) along with John Deere (NYSE

E) are both publicly traded companies. Profits may be returned to the parent company in their home country but the profits are not necessarily put back into the local economy. I doubt if more than a very, very small fraction of JD's profits went back into the local Moline community, just as I assume that only a small fraction of Kubota's profits went back into the local Osaka community.

In fact, as global companies, profits are used either to improve the company by means of extended R&D, cash for a rainy day, new plants and distribution facilities, etc., all happening worldwide. Furthermore, both companies pay dividends to their shareholders which come out of the profits.

JD is no better or no worse than any other company in this global society when it comes to having home grown products. They get the products and components to build those products from wherever it makes corporate sense and corporate sense usually means "best bang for the buck". As a stockholder I wouldn't have it any other way.