Brandwave

Caterpillar vs Hitachi:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Caterpillar had more branded searches than Hitachi among digger brands worldwide. Caterpillar had about 2,400 branded searches, while Hitachi had 1,000. Caterpillar made up 0.34% of all digger brand searches we track, and Hitachi accounted for 0.14%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about digger brands, Caterpillar appeared in three of the four answers and Hitachi in two. Caterpillar was mentioned before Hitachi in every answer that named either.

Among digger brands worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Caterpillar, about 2 searches for every 1 for Hitachi

Caterpillar 2.4K searchesHitachi 1K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Caterpillar, mentioned in 3 of 4 answers, Hitachi in 2

Caterpillar in 3 of 4Hitachi in 2 of 4

Who does AI recommend more?

Caterpillar, named ahead of Hitachi in 3 of 3 answers

Caterpillar first in 3Hitachi never first

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Top digger brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, Caterpillar was mentioned in three out of four: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in the Google AI Overview. Hitachi was mentioned in two out of four: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in the Google AI Overview. Caterpillar was listed before Hitachi in every answer that named either.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Caterpillar1st
  2. Kubota2nd
  3. Komatsu3rd
  4. Hitachi4th
  5. Takeuchi5th
  6. Kobelco6th
  7. Liebherr7th
  8. Hyundai Construction Equipment–
  9. Case–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Kubota4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Caterpillar3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Takeuchi2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Hitachi2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Komatsu2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Liebherr1 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Kobelco1 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Hyundai Construction Equipment0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Case0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers

See every answer about digger brands

4 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.

Is Caterpillar or Hitachi more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Caterpillar and Hitachi by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine digger brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Caterpillar and Hitachi among digger brands worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Caterpillar, Hitachi. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthKubotaLiebherrKobelcoHyundai Construction EquipmentCaseTakeuchiCaterpillarHitachiKomatsu
Oct 202553.7%36%5.9%1.6%1.4%0.79%0.35%0.16%0.02%
Nov 202548.7%39.9%6.6%1.8%1.6%0.87%0.38%0.17%0.02%
Dec 202552.7%35.2%7.1%1.9%1.7%0.77%0.34%0.14%0.02%
Jan 202648.7%39.8%6.6%1.9%1.6%0.87%0.32%0.13%0.02%
Feb 202652.5%35.1%7.1%2.1%1.7%0.94%0.34%0.14%0.02%
Mar 202653.4%35.7%5.9%1.7%1.8%0.96%0.34%0.15%0.02%
Apr 202653.5%35.8%5.9%1.6%1.8%0.96%0.29%0.12%0.02%
May 202657.4%31.4%6.3%1.7%1.9%0.84%0.31%0.13%0.02%
Jun 202653.6%35.8%5.9%1.7%1.8%0.79%0.29%0.1%0.02%
Jul 202648.9%40%6.6%1.7%1.6%0.72%0.32%0.12%0.02%
Aug 202652.6%35.2%7.1%1.9%1.7%0.94%0.34%0.13%0.02%
Sep 202652.6%35.2%7.1%1.9%1.7%0.94%0.34%0.14%0.02%

How has the Caterpillar and Hitachi comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Caterpillar was ahead of Hitachi in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Caterpillar’s share of searches among digger brands worldwide moved from 0.35% to 0.34%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.9K to 2.4K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Hitachi’s share of searches among digger brands worldwide moved from 0.16% to 0.14%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.3K to 1K.

How did search popularity change for digger brands worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. Estimated monthly branded searches for Hitachi worldwide fell 23.1% over 12 measured months, from 1.3K to 1K in September 2026.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Caterpillar worldwide fell 17.2% over 12 measured months, from 2.9K to 2.4K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Caterpillar’s and Hitachi’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Caterpillar

1 branded search term

  • cat digger

Hitachi

1 branded search term

  • hitachi digger

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among digger brands

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