Our History & Heritage

Even now, after so many years, the spirit of Yanmar's founder, Magokichi Yamaoka, can be found in every engine, machine, and tractor we build.

Like many of us, Yamaoka experienced tough times and saw the toll the farming lifestyle could have on family and friends. Ever since he created the world’s first compact diesel engine, Yanmar has been guided by his vision to make lives easier, machines stronger, and tomorrow better.

History and heritage guide us to this day. Our roots are firm, and we are committed to hard work and true gruit. We set goals and follow through. We build with pride. We’re driven to innovate. And we are dedicated to building tractors that work as hard as you do.

A Timeless Tradition

1912

Founded as Yamaoka Hatsudoki Kosausho, a company with a mission to build the most reliable, compact, and efficient engines for farmers, fishermen, and other trades and businesses.

1921

The Yanmar brand name is adopted.

1967

The first Yanmar tractor is launched. From the beginning, Yanmar tractors like the 23 horsepower Model YM273 use Yanmar water-cooled diesel engines.

1979

Yanmar Tractor (USA) Inc. begins operations in North America.

1993

Celebrating 84 years of diesel engines, Yanmar developed the world's first commercially successful small horizontal water-cooled diesel engine with a cold-start system.

2002

Yanmar established Yanmar Agricultural Machinery Manufacturing Co., Ltd. to integrate the group's agricultural businesses, producing tractors and transmissions for the global market.

2006

Advancing tractor technology, Yanmar introduces the first generation of HMT (hydromechanical transmission) technology for Yanmar tractors.

2014

Yanmar American introduces the SA Series tractors.

2016

Yanmar American introduces the YT2 and YT3 Series tractors. YT3 brings operator labor-saving advances to compact tractors with the i-HMT transmission and programmable controls.

2017

The Yanmar American training and customer experience facility opens in Acworth, Georgia.