Hitachi vs Kubota:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Kubota had more branded searches than Hitachi among excavator brands in New Zealand. Kubota had about 1,710 branded searches, while Hitachi had 280. Kubota made up 23.1% of all excavator brand searches we track, and Hitachi accounted for 3.8%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about excavator brands, Hitachi and Kubota each appeared in four of the five answers. Hitachi and Kubota were each mentioned first in two of the four answers.
Who do people search for more?
Kubota, about 6 searches for every 1 for Hitachi
Who does AI mention more?
Both were mentioned in 4 of 5 answers.
Who does AI recommend more?
Each is named first in 2 of 4 answers.
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Top excavator brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Hitachi and Kubota were each mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Hitachi and Kubota 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.
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
See every answer about excavator brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which excavator brand should I buy in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best excavator brands in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best excavator brand in New Zealand for earthmoving work?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best excavator”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“mini excavator brands”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.
Is Hitachi or Kubota more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Hitachi and Kubota 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.
Share of searches by month for Kubota, Hitachi. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Terra Cat | Kubota | CablePrice | Caterpillar | Sumitomo | Hitachi | Yanmar | Sany | Kobelco | Takeuchi | Bobcat | Komatsu | JCB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 34.7% | 19.5% | 19.1% | 5.3% | 5.5% | 2.8% | 2.5% | 2.2% | 1.1% | 2% | 2% | 1.7% | 1.7% |
| Nov 2025 | 34.7% | 22.9% | 15.6% | 4.9% | 5.5% | 3.7% | 3.1% | 1.9% | 0.72% | 1.8% | 2% | 1.7% | 1.4% |
| Dec 2025 | 36.1% | 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 2026 | 36.8% | 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 2026 | 30.8% | 25.5% | 16.7% | 6.5% | 5.1% | 3.2% | 2.7% | 1.5% | 1.4% | 2.3% | 1.4% | 1.8% | 1% |
| Mar 2026 | 30% | 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 2026 | 32% | 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 2026 | 33% | 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 2026 | 32.5% | 26.2% | 14.6% | 6.1% | 4.2% | 2.8% | 2.9% | 2% | 2.1% | 1.7% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1.1% |
| Jul 2026 | 39.4% | 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 2026 | 39.6% | 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 2026 | 32.4% | 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 Hitachi and Kubota comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Kubota was ahead of Hitachi in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- 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.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Kubota’s share of searches among excavator brands in New Zealand moved from 19.5% to 23.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.6K to 1.7K.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand excavator brands in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Kubota gained share of searches among excavator brands in New Zealand, from 18.3% to 23.1%.
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?
8 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Hitachi’s and Kubota’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.
Other head-to-heads among excavator brands
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