Hands down, Kubota Corporation, which began operation in 1890 was the first company to come up with a Japanese tractor. This was the beginning of the world’s love affair with Japanese technology. Today, that romance lives on with almost all countries buying new and used cars from Japan. There isn’t even a distinction on which countries prefer used cars from Japan because they’re just as popular in the U.S. as they are in under developed countries.
With tractors, it’s the same story as cars although there are some tractors not made in Japan but are using Japanese parts like the Kubota engines. It’s a true and real testimony to Japanese quality and technology.
When Kubota Corporation started its business, the plan was to come up with products that would improve agricultural life in Japan. Today, they are in over 130 countries. They were also the first recipient of the Deming Award which recognizes excellence in manufacturing. And because of their dedication to protecting the environment, they received another award in 1992 from Global Environment Awards.
Noticeable with Kubota tractors is their size compared to American brands. They are called either compact or mini tractors. The reason for the smaller size is because farm lands in Japan are not as big as in the U.S. or other countries. Still, from the time they launched their tractor in 1969 in the U.S., it was accepted quickly. They soon followed it up with the 12 horsepower, 4 wheel drive but still as a compact tractor. Again, it was an instant success and eventually became known as the benchmark for compact tractors.
Since 1974, Kubota and other Japanese companies have proven that their expertise and innovativeness in vehicles can be easily adapted to other cultures and countries. Today, Kubota is a byword in the tractor industry. They have over 1,000 dealers in the U.S. alone and have also put up a main office in California.
The Kubota dealer network spans the globe although there are other reliable Japanese tractor companies like Yanmar, Mitsubishi, Hitachi, Honda, and Iseki. These companies are facing fierce competition from tractor manufacturing companies from Italy, the US, Germany, China, and even Pakistan.
Additionally, Hinomoto also manufactures drivetrains for Massey Ferguson, which is an American tractor company, and has been for quite some time. Hinomoto tractors are strong, reliable, and comfortable. These tractors are of great value, especially in comparison to the other competitors on the market. Hitachi Construction Machinery, the manufacturer of Hinomoto tractors, prides themselves on keeping up to date on the current trends of the latest construction and agricultural machinery.
