According to the United Nations,^*1 the global population is set to see an approximately 10% increase from 7.7 billion in 2019 to 8.5 billion in 2030. Further, urban concentration is also expected to advance, with the number of so-called megacities—cities with populations of more than 10 million—increasing from 33 in 2018 to 43 in 2030.^*2 As the global population increases, it is more important than ever before to develop social infrastructure that facilitates comfortable living and at the same time protect the environment.

Since beginning mass-production of its mini excavators^*3 in 1974, Kubota has contributed to the creation of comfortable living environments for approximately 50 years both in Japan and abroad. Throughout this period, with rising environmental awareness across the globe, Kubota has responded to increasingly stringent environmental regulations and requirements for eco-friendliness and continued to meet strict emissions regulations in each country. Moreover, in addition to earning the trust of its customers by continuing to evolve its mini excavators with worksite- and user-friendly design and outstanding functions and operability, Kubota has extended these features to all its compact construction machinery, receiving wide acclaim not only in Europe and North America but in China and other Asian countries, too. Elsewhere, Kubota has responded to diverse needs through high-mix low-volume manufacturing and reasonable costs, and engaged in simultaneous design of multiple models to optimize environmental response and development on a global scale. In this way, the company has achieved high reliability and low costs.

Looking forward, Kubota’s compact construction machinery is predicted to play an increasingly important role and boost its presence in construction, housing, agriculture, and a range of other industries. Expectations are high in Europe and North America, where needs are rising for the development of environmental infrastructure and eco-friendliness; Asia and the Middle East, where rising urban populations are driving needs for better urban and environmental infrastructure; and in Africa, which is set for explosive population growth. In addition to boosting the eco-friendliness and operability of its compact construction machinery through further electrification and automation, Kubota will develop a new lineup of products to contribute to social development and environmental conservation.