Kubota: Sub-Compact Tractor Innovator

A brief history of the largest tractor brands and their logos

Third of Five Series: Kubota

The Kubota company was established in 1890 as a foundry, first producing castings for weighting, then cast iron pipes for water supply, and waterworks equipment such as fire hydrants and gate valves.

Named for its founder Gonshiro Kubota, Kubota Corporation is among the most popular tractor and heavy equipment manufacturers, headquartered in Osaka, Japan. Initially named Oide Chuzo-jo (Oide Foundry), the corporate name changed to Kubota Tekko-Jo (Kubota Iron Works) in 1897.

In 1922, Kubota added production of oil-based engines for agriculture and in 1947 developed and produced a cultivator.

A picture containing wall, yellow Description automatically generated — Source: Kubota Virtual Museum
After years of making cultivators for the growing agricultural industry, Kubota introduced in 1960 the T15, the first Japanese built, rider-driven tractor for dry-field farming.

In 1953, Kubota entered the construction equipment industry with the production of power shovels. A few years later, in 1960, Kubota introduced the T15, the first Japanese built, rider-driven tractor for dry field farming. Later the Type L15R paddy field tractor was produced.

As Kubota develops and commercializes the first Japanese farm tractor and starts production of paddy field tractors, they create their slogan, “From country building to rice making.”

“From country building to rice making.”

Kubota Corporation introduced its first “little orange tractor” to the United States in 1969. Filling a product void in the American marketplace for a sub-compact tractor, the Kubota 21 horsepower L200 was an overnight success. While the compact tractor segment has evolved over the years, Kubota has remained a category leader with the L Series as its flagship product, making Kubota one of the top selling compact tractor brands in the country.

Kubota Tractor Corporation (KTC) was formed in 1972 and the company continued to expand its product line for the US market. In 1990, celebrating 100 years in business, the name was altered to Kubota Corporation. This expansion has continued and Kubota now offers lawn mowers, utility vehicles, construction equipment, agriculture tractors and hay equipment.