Company History
Caterpillar was founded in 1925 through the merger of the Holt Manufacturing Company and the C.L. Best Tractor Company in California. The name is derived from the caterpillar tracks that resemble a caterpillar. For nearly 100 years, the company has shaped the construction equipment industry and relocated its headquarters from Illinois to Irving, Texas in 2022.
Business Segments
Caterpillar operates in four main segments: Construction Industries (excavators, wheel loaders, compact equipment — $25.1 billion), Resource Industries (mining, quarrying — $12.5 billion), Energy & Transportation (engines, turbines, marine) and Financial Products (leasing, insurance — $4.2 billion).
Financial Metrics
In fiscal year 2025 — the company's 100th anniversary — Caterpillar achieved record revenue of $67.6 billion (+4.3% year-over-year). This makes Caterpillar by far the highest-revenue construction equipment manufacturer in the world. Operating margin was approximately 22%, with market capitalization exceeding $170 billion. The company employs approximately 118,000 employees worldwide.
Distribution in the DACH Region
In Germany and Austria, Caterpillar construction equipment is distributed and serviced exclusively through Zeppelin Baumaschinen GmbH. Zeppelin operates a dense network of branches and offers new equipment as well as rental and used equipment services.
Innovation
Caterpillar invests over $2 billion annually in research and development. Key focus areas include autonomous haulage in mining (Cat MineStar), alternative power sources, and digital solutions such as Cat Product Link for fleet management and predictive maintenance.
