In a ceremonial handover at the Kirchdorf an der Iller plant, Liebherr delivered the first machines of a new wheeled excavator line to its partner Kubota. The event symbolises the market entry of a strategic alliance: for the first time, Liebherr offers wheeled excavators in the nine and eleven-tonne classes, and for the first time, Kubota adds wheeled excavators to its product portfolio. Following a joint tour of the newly built production line, Liebherr's managing directors Rudolf Arnold (Sales & Service) and Matthias Zettler (Finance & Admin) presented a specially commissioned key to Kubota representatives Hironori Watanabe (Deputy General Manager Construction Equipment Division, Kubota Corporation Japan) and Keigo Okamoto (President Construction Equipment Business Unit, Kubota Europe).

How the partnership works: know-how from both sides

The collaboration unites complementary strengths. Liebherr contributes its proven expertise in hydraulic excavator design and quality standards, while Kubota supplies high-performance engines from its Japanese manufacturing operations. Four models emerge from this pooling of capabilities:

  • Liebherr A 909 Compact and A 911 Compact (nine and eleven-tonne classes)
  • Kubota KW095 and KW115 (identical weight classes under the Kubota brand)

For both organisations, the cooperation breaks new ground. Liebherr has never before manufactured compact wheeled excavators below 14 tonnes; Kubota has never fielded wheeled excavators at all. By entering these weight segments jointly, the partners aim to combine Kubota's engine competence with Liebherr's hydraulic and chassis engineering.

Dedicated production line at the Liebherr founding site

Manufacturing takes place at Kirchdorf an der Iller, the birthplace of the Liebherr Group. A purpose-built production line has been integrated into the existing factory halls exclusively for the new series. According to the company, this focused assembly approach enables streamlined workflows, short cycle times and consistent adherence to Liebherr's established quality benchmarks. No other models share the line, allowing dedicated tooling and process optimisation for the four variants.

Double design award: iF and Red Dot "Best of the Best"

Beyond technical specifications, the four machines garnered recognition for industrial design. Both the Liebherr A 909 Compact and A 911 Compact, as well as the Kubota KW095 and KW115, received the iF DESIGN AWARD and the Red Dot Design Award's highest honour – "Red Dot: Best of the Best". During the key handover ceremony, Liebherr also presented the award certificates to the Kubota delegation, underlining the machines' emphasis on operator ergonomics and visual identity.

Market positioning: compact footprint, flexible deployment

Wheeled excavators in the nine to eleven-tonne range target urban construction, infrastructure maintenance, utility work and municipal projects where manoeuvrability and road-travel capability matter. The segment sits between mini excavators – often defined as sub-six-tonne machines – and mid-size wheeled excavators above 14 tonnes. For Liebherr, the new line fills a portfolio gap; for Kubota, it completes an offering that already includes compact tracked excavators but lacked wheeled models.

Industry observers note that compact wheeled excavators are particularly popular in Central Europe, where road-legal transport, quick site changes and versatile attachment use are valued. By sharing development costs and production infrastructure, both brands can compete more effectively in this segment without building entirely separate platforms.

What comes next: series ramp-up and market roll-out

With the first machines now delivered, Kubota's distribution network will begin market introduction in selected territories. Liebherr will sell its Compact variants through its existing construction equipment dealer channels. Both companies have not disclosed specific production volume targets or regional allocation details, but the dedicated line at Kirchdorf signals a medium- to long-term commitment to the segment.

Further cooperation phases – such as additional weight classes, electric or hybrid drivetrains, or telematics integration – have not been announced. For now, the partnership focuses on establishing the four diesel-powered models and scaling up series production. Industry analysts will watch whether this alliance model – combining an established excavator manufacturer with a globally active engine and compact-equipment specialist – proves replicable in other segments or weight ranges.

For further details on the Liebherr A 909 and A 911 Compact, visit Liebherr's official website. Information on the Kubota KW095 and KW115 is available at Kubota.com.