by Nick Drew | Thu 15 Jan 2026
Kubota Faithful Chomping at the Bit for New Models
Incredibly we first posted about this machine when we shared an image of it taken by a rogue reporter working under an NDA (Non Disclosure Agreement) during a press event in Venice back in 2023, I posted about it unaware that it was top secret, and was politely asked to take down the post, which of course I complied with. But now we are all allowed to talk about the machine's that we have been waiting so long for!
The 14-tonne class Kubota U145 tracked excavator comes via an OEM supply agreement with fellow Japanese manufacturer Sumitomo Construction Machinery, whilst the 9-tonne class KW095 and 11-tonne class KW115 wheeled excavators come via a similar agreement with Liebherr.
The U145 has a fantastic pedigree and will be a well-known machine under the paintwork to many in the construction machinery game. A well proven hydraulic excavator with an operating weight of 14.5 tonnes, powered by a 76.4 kW Stage V emissions compliant engine and featuring a blue-chip optimised hydraulic system. Available with an optional dozer blade, and the option to choose from either a mono boom, or a tantalising 2-piece boom, you would have to think this will become a very popular choice for the future, especially with those customers who already run Kubota mini excavators on their fleet.
I am definitely looking forward to getting my hands on one in the not-too-distant future for sure!
Then of course we have the two new wheeled excavators, KW095 and KW115, built for Kubota by Liebherr, so it goes without saying they will be of top-quality engineering. These will be another machine I will be keen to gain some seat time on in due course.
I was only just talking to a Kubota owner and life long fan of the brand the other day, and he was expressing a desire to have one of the new wheeled excavators for a demo as an alternative to the 9-tonne machine they currently run.
Of course, when you look back over Kubota’s business history, you discover that there have been numerous collaborations in the past, so this is nothing new. As far back as 1976 Kubota was branding a large 18.5 tonne KH700-7 hydraulic excavator from Hitachi, and vice versa Hitachi marketed smaller Kubota mini diggers in the early 1980’s.
Photo: Kubota KH700-7 Digger Man Blog Achives.
There were also tie-ups with Daewoo, JCB, Furukawa and CASE well into the 1990’s.
With the new machines set to be available this coming Spring, its going to be an exciting time for Kubota dealers and customers in 2026, and something this blog will be keeping an eye on over the coming months.