Bobcat tractors are made by Doosan Bobcat Inc., a subsidiary of Doosan Group, the South Korean multinational conglomerate founded in 1896 that acquired the Bobcat Company from Ingersoll Rand in 2007 for 4.9 billion dollars.
Bobcat is best known in North America for its skid steer loaders and compact excavators, but has offered compact tractors since 2008 through a long-standing OEM supply relationship with Daedong Corporation, the maker of Kioti tractors.
Doosan Bobcat Inc. is headquartered in West Fargo, North Dakota, with compact tractor manufacturing now taking place at the expanded Statesville, North Carolina facility, which doubled in size to support growing compact tractor and groundscare equipment demand.
Knowing that Bobcat tractors are closely linked to Daedong’s compact tractor engineering explains the high mechanical quality and reliability that buyers experience relative to other compact tractors in the same horsepower class.
This article covers who makes Bobcat tractors, where they are produced, who owns the brand, its history, how it compares to a rival, and whether the tractors are any good.
So let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Who Makes Bobcat Tractors?
Bobcat tractors are made by Doosan Bobcat Inc., which produces and assembles its compact tractor lineup at its Statesville, North Carolina facility.
The compact tractors themselves are supplied by Daedong Corporation of South Korea, the same company behind the Kioti tractor brand, with final assembly completed at Bobcat’s North Carolina plant.
Daedong signed a 2018 compact tractor joint development agreement with Doosan Bobcat, followed by a full OEM supply contract in 2019, resuming a relationship that had previously run from 2008 to 2012.
Daedong also supplies engines to Doosan Bobcat under a 2023 five-year engine supply deal, deepening the partnership between the two companies, as confirmed in Bobcat’s company history.
Where Are Bobcat Tractors Made?
Bobcat compact tractors are assembled in the United States at the company’s Statesville, North Carolina facility, which was significantly expanded to double its size to meet growing demand for compact tractors and groundscare equipment.
Core tractor components are manufactured by Daedong Corporation in South Korea and shipped to Statesville for final assembly and quality inspection before distribution.
Bobcat’s broader equipment manufacturing network includes plants in Gwinner and Bismarck, North Dakota, as well as Dobris in the Czech Republic and Wujiang in China for other product lines.
The Statesville expansion, announced as part of Doosan Bobcat’s strategy to grow its groundscare and equipment segment, reflects a long-term commitment to compact tractor production in the United States.
Who Owns Bobcat Tractors?
Bobcat is owned by Doosan Bobcat Inc., which is part of Doosan Group, a South Korean conglomerate founded in 1896 as the Park Seung Jik Store in Seoul.
Doosan acquired Bobcat from Ingersoll Rand in July 2007 for 4.9 billion dollars, the largest overseas acquisition in Doosan’s history at the time.
As part of Doosan Group’s ongoing governance restructuring, Doosan Robotics is in the process of acquiring a 100% stake in Doosan Bobcat, aiming to create synergy between Bobcat’s global sales network and Robotics’ advanced automation technology.
The full Doosan Group corporate structure and Bobcat’s role within it are documented in Doosan’s company profile.
What Is the History of Bobcat?
Bobcat traces its roots to 1947 when the Melroe Manufacturing Company was founded in Gwinner, North Dakota, and the first skid-steer loader concept was developed with the Keller brothers of Minnesota in 1958.
Melroe introduced the M400 skid-steer loader in 1960 and began using the Bobcat trade name in 1962, establishing the brand identity that has defined the company ever since.
Clark Equipment Company acquired Melroe in 1969, then Ingersoll Rand acquired Clark in 1995, before Doosan purchased the entire Bobcat operation from Ingersoll Rand in 2007.
Bobcat added compact tractors to its lineup in 2008 through its initial Daedong supply partnership, expanding beyond loaders and excavators into the growing North American compact tractor segment.
Bobcat Tractors vs Kioti Tractors: How Do They Compare?
Bobcat and Kioti share a deep manufacturing relationship since both brands source tractor platforms from Daedong Corporation, making their core engineering closely related.
Kioti is sold through a dedicated tractor dealer network of approximately 500 North American dealers and carries Daedong’s own brand identity with a 6-year powertrain warranty.
Bobcat tractors benefit from Bobcat’s much larger and more widespread dealer network, which services all of Bobcat’s compact equipment lines including loaders, excavators, and utility vehicles alongside the tractors.
For buyers who want a compact tractor they can service at the same dealer that handles their loader or excavator, Bobcat offers a convenient one-stop compact equipment solution.
Are Bobcat Tractors Any Good?
Bobcat compact tractors are well regarded for the same engineering reasons that make Kioti tractors well regarded, since both share Daedong’s South Korean manufacturing platform and component quality.
Bobcat’s strength over standalone tractor brands is its vast North American dealer network, which offers multi-product service capability for farms and properties that run multiple Bobcat machines.
Bobcat’s all-electric T7X compact track loader, unveiled at CES 2022, reflects the parent company’s investment in future technology, suggesting the compact tractor line will also evolve with electrification in coming years.
Pricing is typically above comparable Kioti or TYM models since the Bobcat brand commands a premium for its dealer network and multi-equipment service ecosystem.
For farmers and property managers who already use Bobcat loaders or excavators and want a compact tractor serviced by the same dealer, Bobcat tractors represent a highly convenient and well-engineered choice.
For more on related tractor brands, see Who Makes RK Tractors and Where Are Mahindra Tractors Made.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bobcat Tractors
Who makes Bobcat tractors?
Bobcat tractors are made by Doosan Bobcat Inc., part of South Korea’s Doosan Group. Core tractor platforms are supplied by Daedong Corporation of South Korea and assembled at Bobcat’s Statesville, North Carolina facility.
Are Bobcat tractors the same as Kioti tractors?
Bobcat and Kioti tractors share Daedong Corporation as their manufacturing source, meaning their core engineering platforms are closely related. They differ in branding, dealer network, and pricing.
Where are Bobcat tractors made?
Bobcat compact tractors are assembled at Doosan Bobcat’s expanded Statesville, North Carolina facility. Core components are manufactured by Daedong Corporation in South Korea.
Who owns Bobcat?
Bobcat is owned by Doosan Group of South Korea, which acquired it from Ingersoll Rand in 2007 for 4.9 billion dollars. Doosan Robotics is currently in the process of acquiring 100% of Doosan Bobcat as part of a group restructuring.
I am Jack Neel, a mechanical engineer, researcher, and writer. I created this website to share my knowledge about different brands and products with you. I research the manufacturers behind the brands and provide you with the information you need to make smart buying decisions.