Brandwave

How popular isCaterpillar?

In September 2026, people searched for Caterpillar by name about 540 times in New Zealand, about the same as the previous year. These searches made up 6.2% of all New Zealand excavator brand searches, placing Caterpillar fourth out of 13 brands. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about excavator brands, Caterpillar appeared in all answers and was the fourth most recommended of the 13.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Caterpillar is the fourth most searched of 13 competitors and the fourth most recommended in AI answers.

  1. Terra CatShare of searches 32.4%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 9th
  2. KubotaShare of searches 23.1%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  3. CablePriceShare of searches 13.5%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 7th
  4. CaterpillarShare of searches 6.2%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
  5. SumitomoShare of searches 6.2%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –

+8 more

Caterpillar website (opens in a new tab)

Follow Caterpillar and get free monthly updates on what changed

By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy

Top excavator brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Caterpillar appeared in all five answers. Caterpillar is the fourth most recommended of the 13.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Komatsu1st
  2. Kubota2nd
  3. Hitachi3rd
  4. Caterpillar4th
  5. Takeuchi5th
  6. Yanmar6th
  7. CablePrice7th
  8. Sany8th
  9. Terra Cat9th
  10. Kobelco10th
  11. +3 more

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Caterpillar5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Kubota4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Hitachi4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Komatsu4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Terra Cat3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • CablePrice3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Takeuchi3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Yanmar2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Sany2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Kobelco2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers

+3 more

See every answer about excavator brands

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.

Which excavator brands compete with Caterpillar?

Caterpillar against excavator brands in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Terra Cat, Kubota, CablePrice, Caterpillar, Sumitomo, Hitachi, Yanmar, Sany, Kobelco, Takeuchi. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthTerra CatKubotaCablePriceCaterpillarSumitomoHitachiYanmarSanyKobelcoTakeuchiBobcatKomatsuJCB
Oct 202534.7%19.5%19.1%5.3%5.5%2.8%2.5%2.2%1.1%2%2%1.7%1.7%
Nov 202534.7%22.9%15.6%4.9%5.5%3.7%3.1%1.9%0.72%1.8%2%1.7%1.4%
Dec 202536.1%23.6%15.1%5.7%5.3%2.7%2.6%1.7%1.1%1.7%1.4%1.4%1.8%
Jan 202636.8%20.3%16.5%5.5%4.7%3.6%2.7%1.5%0.76%1.9%1.4%1.8%2.7%
Feb 202630.8%25.5%16.7%6.5%5.1%3.2%2.7%1.5%1.4%2.3%1.4%1.8%1%
Mar 202630%28.7%16.6%5.8%4.1%3.5%2.2%1.7%1.1%1.9%1.4%1.8%1.2%
Apr 202632%25.4%13.3%6.1%5.3%3.3%3.5%1.6%2.1%1.5%1.5%2.8%1.6%
May 202633%22.8%14.8%6.5%4.9%3.2%3.6%1.8%2.2%2.4%1.6%1.9%1.4%
Jun 202632.5%26.2%14.6%6.1%4.2%2.8%2.9%2%2.1%1.7%1.9%1.9%1.1%
Jul 202639.4%17.7%13.6%6.4%5.8%3.8%2.9%2.2%1.5%1.6%1.9%1.9%1.4%
Aug 202639.6%18.3%14.3%5.8%5.4%3.9%2.9%2.2%1.4%1.7%1.9%1.5%1.1%
Sep 202632.4%23.1%13.5%6.2%6.2%3.8%3.5%2.4%2.2%2%1.9%1.9%0.94%

  1. 1.Terra Cat

    32.4%

    Held 1st. 2.4K estimated branded searches, -33.3% vs prior month. Share -7.3 points.

  2. 2.Kubota

    23.1%

    Held 2nd. 1.7K estimated branded searches, +3% vs prior month. Share +4.8 points.

  3. 3.CablePrice

    13.5%

    Held 3rd. 1K estimated branded searches, -23.1% vs prior month. Share -0.8 points.

  4. 4.Caterpillar

    6.2%

    Held 4th. 460 estimated branded searches, -13.2% vs prior month. Share +0.4 points.

  5. 5.Sumitomo

    6.2%

    Held 5th. 460 estimated branded searches, -6.1% vs prior month. Share +0.8 points.

  6. 6.Hitachi

    3.8%

    Held 6th. 280 estimated branded searches, -20% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  7. 7.Yanmar

    3.5%

    Held 7th. 260 estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.6 points.

  8. 8.Sany

    2.4%

    Held 8th. 180 estimated branded searches, -10% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.

  9. 9.Kobelco

    2.2%

    Moved from 12th to 9th. 160 estimated branded searches, +23.1% vs prior month. Share +0.7 points.

  10. 10.Takeuchi

    2%

    Held 10th. 150 estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.4 points.

  11. 11.Bobcat

    1.9%

    Moved from 9th to 11th. 140 estimated branded searches, -17.6% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  12. 12.Komatsu

    1.9%

    Moved from 11th to 12th. 140 estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.3 points.

  13. 13.JCB

    0.94%

    Held 13th. 70 estimated branded searches, -30% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.

Compare popularity between Caterpillar and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Caterpillar

24 comparisons

How has branded search demand for Caterpillar changed in New Zealand over the last 12 months?

4 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Caterpillar in New Zealand held steady at 540.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Caterpillar’s share of searches among excavator brands in New Zealand increased from 5.3% to 6.2%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Caterpillar’s share of searches among excavator brands in New Zealand peaked at 6.5% in February 2026 and was lowest at 4.9% in November 2025.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Caterpillar rose from 5th to 4th among excavator brands in New Zealand.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand excavator brands in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, Kobelco overtook Bobcat and 2 others to rank 9th among excavator brands in New Zealand, with 2.2% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Kubota gained share of searches among excavator brands in New Zealand, from 18.3% to 23.1%.

  3. In September 2026, Sumitomo gained share of searches among excavator brands in New Zealand, from 5.4% to 6.2%.

  4. In September 2026, Yanmar gained share of searches among excavator brands in New Zealand, from 2.9% to 3.5%.

  5. In September 2026, Terra Cat lost share of searches among excavator brands in New Zealand, from 39.6% to 32.4%.

  6. In September 2026, CablePrice lost share of searches among excavator brands in New Zealand, from 14.3% to 13.5%.

How are Caterpillar’s branded searches counted?

12 search terms

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

  • 303 cat excavator
  • 306 cat excavator
  • 308 cat excavator
  • 349 cat excavator
  • bruder cat excavator
  • cat digger
  • cat excavator
  • caterpillar forestry mulcher
  • caterpillar mens boot
  • caterpillar steel toe boot
  • caterpillar workwear
  • rc cat excavator

Do you work for Caterpillar? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Where does Caterpillar compete?

Caterpillar is ranked in six competitor sets. Each share is worked out among that set's brands, so it differs from set to set.
Competitor setRankShare of searchesRanking
Workwear brands13th of 140.1%Show ranking
Men's boot brands8th of 80.03%Show ranking
Steel toe boot brands7th of 70.03%Show ranking
Excavator brands4th of 136.2%Shown above
Forestry mulcher brands5th of 60.19%Show ranking
Wheel loader brands5th of 62%Show ranking
Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

Is Caterpillar your brand?

Put your own campaigns, spend and outcomes next to this demand line, so you can see which of your marketing lined up with the movements above.

Start free