Brandwave

Caterpillar vs Hitachi:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Caterpillar had more branded searches than Hitachi among excavator brands in New Zealand. Caterpillar had about 460 branded searches, while Hitachi had 280. Caterpillar made up 6.2% of all excavator brand searches we track, and Hitachi accounted for 3.8%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about excavator brands, Caterpillar appeared in all five answers and Hitachi in four. Caterpillar and Hitachi were each mentioned first in two of the four answers.

Among excavator brands in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Caterpillar, about 64% more searches than Hitachi

Caterpillar 460 searchesHitachi 280 searches

Who does AI mention more?

Caterpillar, mentioned in every answer we collected

Caterpillar in 5 of 5Hitachi in 4 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Each is named first in 2 of 4 answers.

Caterpillar first in 2Hitachi first in 2

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Top excavator brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Caterpillar appeared in all five answers. Hitachi was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Caterpillar and Hitachi were each listed first in two of the four answers.

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.

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 13 excavator brands we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Caterpillar and Hitachi among excavator brands in New Zealand, 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
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%

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 excavator brands in New Zealand moved from 5.3% to 6.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 440 to 460.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Hitachi’s share of searches among excavator brands in New Zealand moved from 2.8% to 3.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 230 to 280.

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

1 change

  1. Estimated monthly branded searches for Hitachi in New Zealand rose 21.7% over 12 measured months, from 230 to 280 in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

10 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

8 branded search terms

  • 303 cat excavator
  • 306 cat excavator
  • 308 cat excavator
  • 349 cat excavator
  • bruder cat excavator
  • cat digger
  • cat excavator
  • rc cat excavator

Hitachi

2 branded search terms

  • hitachi digger
  • hitachi excavator

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among excavator brands

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