So just what did happen between Lely and Kioti?

Woodbeef · Jul 9, 2004

I dug out some old Kioti brochures for my new local Kioti dealer. The Lely name was on them as importer/distributor. This got me to wondering just what happened to Lely. About all I could find is a refference to a court case between Lely and Daedong from The Supreme Court of NC. Daedong is the plantiff and Lely the defendant. So does anyone know the particulars of this? I know that Kioti is directly distributing now in NA,but just what is the suit about?

KiotiJohn · Jul 9, 2004

From an earlier post from rtimgray:
>>Sorry about that. Maybe I screwed up the Kioti designations so bad they are not recognizable. I think that the LK models (1914, 2554, 3054) were the earliest models imported to the states. A company that was otherwise mostly involved in haying equipment, Lely, was the orginal importer, so I think the LK evolved from Lely-Kioti. From what I gather, the parent company and manufacturer of Kioti tractors Daedong elected to take over their own importing and in doing this also decided to bring in the newer DK series (I thought DK might have been Daedong-Kioti). Unfortunately, the CK series throws my theories out the window, so their may not be any rhyme or reason to the prefix scheme.<<

I don't know about the law suit, and it's difficult to find anything other than that there was an appeal filed, but I still can't find out what the original was all about. I'll keep looking. Interestingly, Daedong's address was on Lely Road in Wilson. John

Woodbeef · Jul 10, 2004

Ya, I noticed that also about the addy. That is one of the things I found interesting about the whole deal. Did Kioti just move into the existing Lely digs? I wonder who is the longest serving Kioti dealer on the board? Maybe they would have the answers?

depratt_equip · Jul 10, 2004

I don't quite remember what the whole deal was about. It almost seems like it was lack of service and support provided by Lely, but don't quote me on this.

KiotiJohn - You are correct about LK being Lely-Kioti and DK being Daedong-Kioti. I believe the CK is - Compact-Kioti.....

KiotiJohn · Jul 10, 2004

( KiotiJohn - You are correct about LK being Lely-Kioti and DK being Daedong-Kioti. I believe the CK is - Compact-Kioti..... )
I can't take credit for that thought, it was a copy of a post by rtimgray John

KiotiJohn · Jul 11, 2004

Well, I've searched all the records I can find and can't find the original filing. However, I did find that apparently Kioti lost the suit because they filed for a petition for writ of certiorari (filed to ask the court to revisit a decision that went against a party) which was denied. Apparently a North Carolina association of bankers wanted to interven and be added to the writ, but were denied (as a moot point). Kioti's petition for writ of certiorari was also denied (leading to the moot finding), so whatever decision the lower court made was final. I can not, for the life of me, find another thing. One would think that the original filing would be rather easy to find. I had all the court numbers, but found nothing. John

Inspector507 · Jul 11, 2004

So........what did the LB stand for in the LB1741, LB2202, LB1914, LB2204, LB2214 and LB2216 ?? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

KiotiJohn · Jul 11, 2004

( So........what did the LB stand for in the LB1741, LB2202, LB1914, LB2204, LB2214 and LB2216 ?? )
I think it's reasonable to assume that it was Lely something or other or no significance. I'll try to get with someone at the company to try to research it. It's only marginally interesting, really, but it may turn up something of interest. John

depratt_equip · Jul 11, 2004

They went over all this at one service school one time. It seems that the LB is just simply the LB, and really stands for nothing. At least thats what I think remember them saying. Good question though... I will ask around and hopefully find out for sure.