As 2024 winds down, Bobcat is sharing an overview on key initiatives and news reflecting a year which the company reports was focused on supporting customers and communities.
“In 2024, we prioritized customer success with expanded offerings, as well as partnering with organizations to support initiatives within our communities,” said Mike Ballweber, president of Doosan Bobcat North America. “We made great strides in executing our strategy and making further investments for long-term growth.”
In detailing what it called “another dynamic and impactful year,” the company issued an overview of investments in new equipment, facility enhancements and philanthropic endeavors, which are shared here from most recent to monthly updates back to the start of 2024.
Throughout the year, Bobcat and its employees took part in volunteer activities and philanthropic initiatives to give back to the communities across its footprint. The summary reported that Bobcat and its employees recently concluded their fall giving campaign, donating over $189,000 to 139 nonprofit organizations across the U.S.
In early fall, Bobcat employees around the world – including throughout North America – gave back by volunteering in the communities where they live and work as part of its bi-annual Doosan Bobcat Community Days, a companywide volunteer effort. To date, more than 1,350 employees across Doosan Bobcat’s global footprint have volunteered more than 5,600 hours to support nearly 100 community projects this year.
A large number of product announcements were featured in October, including but not limited to: introducing the new Telehandler; the Red Dot Award: Design Concept presented to the Bobcat RogueX2; naming the Ivan K. Hill Park in Winfield, AL, as the winner of the $100,000 Bobcat Park and Rec Makeover Contest, launched in July, to support improvements at the park, with a focus on revitalizing a youth recreation space.
Bobcat also shared news of its disaster relief efforts following Hurricanes Helene and Milton, announcing its donation of $885,000 worth of equipment, including forklifts, portable generators, and light towers.
September and August efforts included Bobcat expanding its North American product lineup with the introduction of the B760 backhoe loader; additionally, Bobcat completed a $3.26 million renovation at its Buford, Georgia location, which is home to its North American material handling sales, service, marketing parts and logistics departments. During the early summer, the company reported a range of activity, including the unveiling of a $25,000 backyard makeover to Turlock, California resident Julie Rummer, who became paralyzed following a car crash.
In other news, Bobcat enhanced two of its North Dakota manufacturing facilities with the installation of stationary, natural gas-powered fuel cells from HyAxion, Inc., described as a leading global fuel cell and hydrogen solutions provider.
The tractor lineup was expanded with the launch of three utility tractors, the Bobcat UT6066, 6566 and 6573. The company also broke ground for its Mexico facility expected to be operational in 2026, and reported that it enhanced its Machine IQ telematics platform with Remote Engine Disable/Enable, two-way functionality which allows customer users to remotely enable or disable their machine’s engine.
Mowing “moved electric in time for spring,” reported the company as in April, the company reported it commercialized its battery-powered, electric ZT6000e zero-turn mower. As reported by RLD in its Equip Expo coverage this fall, the mower is powered by a 20.4-kWh, lithium-ion battery, the ZT6000e produces zero emissions and delivers productive runtimes in commercial applications.
Earlier in spring, Bobcat announced a partnership with Magnolia co-founder, spirited entrepreneur and home renovation expert Chip Gaines who became Bobcat’s newest brand ambassador. In other news, Fast Company’s 2024 List named Bobcat among its Most Innovative Companies for its manufacturing, equipment design and automation initiatives.
In February, Bobcat expanded its product portfolio with the introduction of forklifts, industrial air compressors, turf renovation equipment and portable power products (air compressors, generators and light towers).
Bobcat kicked off the year at CES 2024 with the introduction of the Bobcat AT450X enabled by Agtonomy, and RogueX2 which is the company’s all-electric and autonomous concept loader.
