Kubota Enters North American Large Utility Tractor Segment With All-New M8 Series Of Tractors
Meet Kubota’s all-new M8 Series of tractors, which the company says is its “most powerful and advanced line to date” and that will enable Kubota to “aggressively fill a higher-horsepower customer need” for a large utility or midsize row crop tractor. Available via authorized Kubota dealerships in spring 2020, the M8 Series includes the M8-191 and M8-211 models, which respectively provide 190 and 210 horsepower of rated power at 2,100 rpm via 6.7-liter Cummins B6.7L Tier-4 Final/Stage V engines. Kubota will showcase the M8 Series at the Farm Progress Show running Aug. 27th to 29th in Decatur, Illinois, and Husker Harvest Days, which runs Sept. 10th to 12th in Grand Island, Nebraska.
“Making Bold Moves”
Kubota product lineup includes the Sub-compact, Compact, Economy Utility, Utility, Specialty, Agriculture, and Tractor Loader Backhoe series of tractors. The M8 Series falls into the Agriculture category, and is billed as Kubota’s “newest, largest, and highest-horsepower utility ag machine yet.” The new model range is part of Kubota’s strategy to enter the North American large utility tractor market. Earlier this year, Kubota inked a deal with Buhler Versatile Industries, manufacturer of equipment under the Versatile and Farm King brands, to help develop and manufacture M8 tractors at Buhler Industries’ factories.
Haruyuki Yoshida, president and CEO of Kubota Tractor and Kubota North America, says Kubota is “making bold moves” with the debut “to establish our presence in the segment and position ourselves to steadily grow our share.” Kubota Senior Vice President of Marketing, Product Support, and Strategic Products Todd Stucke adds that with an “operating experience focused on easy-to-control comfort, confident workability, and intuitive controls for precision farming, the M8 will maximize return on investment for Kubota customers today and well into the future.”
“A Superior Operational Experience”
Kubota notably says M8 Series models are compatible with all industry-leading precision-farming solutions, including auto-steering and mapping solutions. In addition, the M8’s cab provides 148 cubic feet (4.2 cubic meters) of space, with every inch “designed to deliver a superior operational experience.” Cab features include sound insulation, seat and comfort-centric options, all-weather climate control, and a multifunction command center. Initial specs indicate the tractors will provide semi-powershift and KVT (Kubota Variable Transmission) transmission options, an electro-hydraulically operated PTO, front and rear three-point hitches, and a 7-inch in-cab K-Monitor.
Source: Kubota
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