Kubota tractors are the life-blood of agricultural and construction equipment worldwide. Many customers want to know where these reliable machines are built. The company's story began in Osaka, Japan, but now Kubota has manufacturing facilities on multiple continents. Their growing global production network has several cutting-edge facilities in the United States that make them a key player in American manufacturing.
The heart of Kubota's U.S. manufacturing lies in their impressive Gainesville, Georgia facility. This plant makes many popular tractor models. The facility specializes in building L Series tractors, BX Series, and sub-compact tractors with front loaders. Kubota Tractor Corporation's steadfast dedication to American manufacturing shows through their continuous expansion of U.S. production capabilities. This expansion ensures top-quality equipment for the North American market.
Overview of Kubota's U.S. Manufacturing Locations
Kubota Manufacturing of America (KMA) stands at the center of Kubota's American operations. The 35-year-old facility in Gainesville, Georgia employs more than 3,500 local residents and serves as the main manufacturing hub for several product lines.
Kubota's Gainesville facility spans an impressive 502,000 square feet of manufacturing space. The state-of-the-art plant can produce up to 75,000 units each year . The facility's product line has:
- Zero-turn mowers
- Sub-compact tractors
- Utility vehicles
- Turf products
Kubota Industrial Equipment (KIE) runs a 440,000-square-foot factory in Jefferson, Georgia that specializes in manufacturing tractor implements, including loaders and backhoes. The 19-year-old KIE facility employs more than 1,000 workers and plays a vital role in assembling larger tractors imported from Japan for the U.S. market.
Kubota's manufacturing presence grows stronger with a new 750,000-square-foot facility under development in Salina, Kansas . This expansion shows Kubota's steadfast dedication to American manufacturing. Georgia now manufactures or assembles approximately half of all Kubota-branded equipment sold in the United States .
Kubota Tractor Models Made in the USA
Kubota's American-made lineup features an impressive range of tractors and utility vehicles built at their modern facilities. The BX Series, Kubota's flagship sub-compact tractor line, delivers 16.6 to 24.8 horsepower. These machines excel at gardening, landscaping, and property maintenance tasks.
Kubota's versatile B01 Series shows their dedication to quality with models from 20.9 to 24.3 horsepower. Sales data from 2018-2022 proves these tractors are the #1 selling compact tractors in the USA.
Kubota has managed to keep its position as North America's best-selling diesel utility vehicle manufacturer since 2004. Their RTV-X Series leads the market with remarkable features:
- 1,100 lbs. cargo capacity
- 1,300 lbs. towing capacity
- Better speed-sensitive Electronic Power Steering
- Speeds up to 40 mph with 48 horsepower engines
The Jefferson facility specializes in making tractor implements and assembling popular L Series tractors. This location also builds the SSV65 and SSV75 skid steer product lines, which shows Kubota's dedication to growing their American-made equipment lineup.
Kubota has boosted its implement manufacturing capabilities through mutually beneficial alliances with Kverneland Group and Great Plains Manufacturing. This ensures perfect compatibility between tractors and attachments made in their U.S. facilities.
The Manufacturing Process at Kubota's U.S. Facilities
Kubota's U.S. manufacturing facilities represent modern production excellence through their sophisticated Kubota Production System. Their newest facility in Gainesville showcases this approach with two state-of-the-art paint systems built specifically for RTV product lines.
The manufacturing process uses advanced quality control measures that include:
- Torque-control tools and DC electric tools for precise assembly
- Integrated poka-yoke (mistake-proofing) systems
- Pick-to-light systems for accurate parts selection
- Automated quality verification stations
These facilities show remarkable production capabilities and can make up to 210,000 implements each year. The Gainesville plant produces 75,000 units annually while following strict quality standards through their systematic manufacturing approach.
Quality Assurance plays a vital role in production, and each facility conducts detailed internal audits and quality checks regularly. Their manufacturing system reduces the time between customer orders and shipping. Simplified processes and clear parts flow help achieve this efficiency while ensuring consistent quality in all product lines.
The facilities have a workforce of over 2,700 skilled employees, and local managers lead most departments. Japanese manufacturing expertise combined with American workforce creates a unique production environment that delivers high standards and meets growing market needs.
Kubota's Commitment to American Manufacturing
Kubota shows its steadfast dedication to American manufacturing through continued major investments in U.S. operations. The company announced a USD 140 million investment to expand their Gainesville, Georgia operations, which will add 500 new manufacturing jobs. This expansion will double loader production capacity and enhance quality with breakthroughs in welding and painting technologies.
The company's growth goes beyond manufacturing. Kubota launched a new 280-acre Research and Development Center in Gainesville with an USD 85 million investment in April 2022. The facility created 70 engineering and technical positions right away and plans to employ nearly 200 people in the next five years .
Kubota's impact on American manufacturing shines through:
- Georgia-made equipment exports reach USD 120 million yearly
- Products reach markets in Canada, Europe, Australia, and Japan
- Georgia facilities expanded four times since 2003
- More than 3,500 jobs created at Georgia locations
Kubota's strategy of "local production for local consumption" has become a soaring win. About half of all Kubota-branded equipment sold in the United States is now made or assembled in Georgia. This approach has made Gainesville a key manufacturing center for Kubota's North American operations that supports their network of 1,100 U.S. dealers.
Conclusion
Kubota has built an impressive manufacturing presence across the United States. Their modern facilities in Georgia churn out hundreds of thousands of units each year. These range from compact tractors to utility vehicles that meet rigorous quality standards through advanced production methods. The company now makes about half of its US-sold equipment right here in America.
Kubota continues to grow its American manufacturing operations through major investments. A USD 140 million expansion at their Gainesville operations shows their vision for the future. The company also built a new 280-acre Research and Development Center that demonstrates their long-term plans. These investments create thousands of American jobs and support a huge dealer network. Kubota sets new benchmarks for excellence in agricultural and construction equipment manufacturing.
References
- https://www.kubota-kma.com/about/
- https://www.kubotausa.com/docs/default-source/press-kit/production-pipeline.pdf
- https://www.messicks.com/school/kubota-manufacturing-locations?srsltid=AfmBOoqtkK8ahnhVBzO1dmobL3cg-FbJHcibXynxDXwyy8H_tStKkD8S
- https://www.kubota-kma.com/
- https://www.kubotausa.com/products/tractors/sub-compact/bx-series?keyword=Snow+plow&type=all
- https://www.kubotausa.com/tractors
- https://www.kubotausa.com/products/tractors/compact/b01
- https://www.kubotausa.com/docs/default-source/press-kit/rtv-product-line.pdf?sfvrsn=b0849294_2
- https://www.kubotausa.com/utility-vehicles
- https://www.kubota.com/products/implements/index.html
- https://www.assemblymag.com/articles/94167-error-proofing-ensures-quality-assembly-at-kubota
