Shibaura, Yanmar, Iseki, Kubota, Kioti, Kukje, Mitsubishi, TYM, etc (I know I missed a bunch) are manufacturers. JD, MF, NH, and Cub do not make CUTs (some of the Cubs are Kiotis /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif). I'm sure their marketing folks have some input, but I doubt they do much design. CUTs are farm tractors in the rest of the world, where large tractors are probably too big and expensive for most. There is nothing high tech in a CUT, just ordinary mechanisms that were perfected years ago, and that any one of these companies can handle. Most of these manufacturers have made a lot of units over many years - I would love to see world wide production numbers of CUT-sized tractors only. When one of these companies decides to market in the US (or any new market), it takes a little while to establish a dealer network and figure out what mix of features is needed, and to accomodate anything that might be different - things like the ROPS & safety features, and that US customers are using them as mowers and with TLB setups. And they'll have to offer a price break untill they get established or they will fail. There will be exceptions here and there, but overall I think it is clear that a Zetor or Kioti or Mahindra is still less expensive. It couldn't work otherwise.
In terms of world wide CUT sales, I'd bet the Big 3 is really more like the Big 10. I have no doubt that any of the CUT manufacturers that have been in the game for a long time could make an equal quality tractor, and no doubt that each can make a dud. That goes for the green Yanmars and blue Shibauras and red Isekis too. The biggest difference is going to be in the dealer & support & service end of the buisness.
I bought a Kioti LK3054. It is old style and somewhat crude compared to the latest designs (from everyone), but it is very well made. And for my purposes it eats the "Big 3" unit I was comparing it too alive, and for the same price. Could another "Big 3" dealer have gotten closer? Maybe, but I doubt close enough. Are the gears properly heat treated? Did they use good bearings and seals? Did they put it together carefully? Beats me, only time will tell, just like with your Yanmars. I do know that it showed less signs of cost cutting on the external parts compared to some others I looked at.
I browse the other pages for the other brands, and I see the kinds of things people have trouble with, and they are all the kinds of design and assembly problems you would expect - there ain't no magic here. Mostly, people seem to be very happy with their brand (maybe to a fault!), and what seems to steam them up the most is when they can't get support. Some folks feel more comfortable buying name brand, even if it is more expensive, and they feel they are getting something of worth in return. If it makes you happy to think that your green Yanmar is of higher quality than my Kioti, feel free. Personally, I've crawled all over the Kioti, and find it to be VERY well made, just as I would expect from a company with lots of experience, and I'm happy to keep the change.
