April 12, 2021
Most of Kubota tractors sold in North America are manufactured in Georgia, United States. Kubota is a large local employer in the US.
Kubota is a global tractor and heavy equipment company with its headquarters based in Osaka, Japan, with roots tracing back to 1890 when it was first established as a foundry producing castings. Today it is one of the largest equipment manufacturers in the world with locations in over 25 countries. Kubota products include tractors and agricultural equipment, engines, construction equipment, and various other diversified products.
Gonshiro Kubota, the founder of Kubota, started the business at the age of 19. His core belief was "If you try hard, you can get it done," and "our products should not only be technically excellent, but also useful for society." Today the company's brand statement "For Earth, For Life" embodies the founders' belief that the company should focus on helping the world.
Many consumers surveys have rated Kubota among the best tractor brands in the world. The Kubota brand has earned a reputation for producing powerful and reliable tractors and engines. Kubota's tractor line includes (all images are from Kubota.com):
The company is developing AgriRobo, an autonomous agricultural machine that is capable of unmanned, automatic operations. Kubota's AgriRobo uses advanced GPS and automatic driving technology to perform highly accurate cultivating and puddling.
Kubota Manufacturing of America Corporation ("Kubota America"), established in 1988 and headquartered in Gainesville, Georgia, is the principal operating company for Kubota's North American operations. When it began its operations, Kubota America produced tractor implements such as backhoes and front loaders. Over the years Kubota has grown and expanded to lawn tractors for cutting grass, subcompact tractors, garden tractors and rough terrain vehicles ("RTVs").
Kubota tractor makes tractors sold in North America at its Jefferson, Georgia facility (Kubota Industrial Equipment Corporation). Certain unassembled machinery is imported from Japan and then final assembly takes place at the Georgia facility. Today Kubota America directly employs over 2,300 people in the United States who assist in making Kubota tractors in the United States.
Principal tractors and machinery made in Georgia include:
Many Kubota tractors made in the United States are exported to other regions including Canada, Australia, Europe, Africa, Asia and Japan. In 2015 the company manufactured its one-millionth Kubota tractor in the United States. Kubota America now makes over 100,000 units annually at its Georgia facility.
In 2019 Kubota increased its commitment to North American tractor manufacturing when it announced an $85 million 300 acre expansion of its manufacturing facility in Gainesville, Georgia. This reflects Kubota's confidence in making tractors in the United States.
Kubota's tractor engines are made at Kubota Engine America, headquartered in Lincolnshire, IL. The United States Engine Division was established in 1982 in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. By 1998 Kubota had made its 100,000th engine in the United States. Six years later in 2004, it made its 200,000th engine in the United States.
Kubota Engine America makes industrial engines, general drive engines and generators. The US factory makes tractor diesel engines up to 300 horsepower (new Kubota S7509). Kubota tractor diesel engines have a reputation for being designed well and very reliable.
Kubota has produced tractors in Japan since it started manufacturing farm equipment in 1960. Since then Kubota has expanded its global manufacturing footprint across the world.
Kubota produces tractors in China for the Chinese market at its local subsidiary Kubota Agricultural Machinery (SUZHOU) Co., Ltd.
Kubota and KIOTI are not the same, nor are they currently affiliated (see Where Are KIOTI Tractors Made?). In the past, Kubota partnered with KIOTI's parent company Daedong to produce one tractor model. That partnership no longer exists. Both Kubota and KIOTI compete head-to-head in segments including compact tractors and now compact construction equipment. Kubota has a larger dealer network in North America when compared to KIOTI.
In 2002 Kubota sued Daedong in a California court for trademark infringement because KIOTI used a similar orange color and hood shape decal. After a five-year legal battle, the two companies reached an undisclosed settlement in August 2007. Both KIOTI and Kubota continue to use the orange color and hood shape decal following the lawsuit, which suggests that the lawsuit did not change much.
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