Kioti pulled a literal curtain drop at ConExpo 2026. On Day 1 of the show, the Korean manufacturer unveiled three mini excavators that had been hiding behind floor-to-ceiling black drapes at their booth. The MX 350A, MX 350AE, and MX 570A are the company’s first-ever excavators, and they’re set to hit dealer lots this spring.

This matters. Kioti has been a tractor-and-UTV brand for most of its existence in North America. They entered the compact track loader and skid steer markets in 2023, signaling they wanted a piece of the construction equipment pie. Mini excavators are the next logical step, and the biggest one yet.

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Why Mini Excavators, Why Now

The timing isn’t random. Mini excavators are the second-highest selling product category in construction equipment, with more than 33,000 new financed units sold in 2025 according to Fusable’s EDA data. That’s a massive market, and Kioti already has dealers across the country selling tractors and compact equipment. Adding excavators to those dealer lots gives existing customers a reason to stay in the Kioti ecosystem instead of buying a Cat or Kubota mini ex.

Joel Hicks, Kioti’s product development manager, told Equipment World that the MX series came from listening to their dealer network. Kioti dealers wanted to offer customers one-stop shopping: tractors, zero-turn mowers, utility vehicles, and now compact construction equipment all under one roof.

It’s a familiar play. When a manufacturer has 500+ dealers and strong brand loyalty in one segment, expanding into adjacent categories is just good business. Kubota did it decades ago. CASE did it with their construction lineup. Kioti is betting they can pull off the same transition.

The Lineup: Three Models, Two Size Classes

Kioti brought three machines, but really it’s two sizes with one variation.

MX 350A — The Workhorse

The base model runs a 23-horsepower engine at an operating weight of 8,501 pounds. Here’s what comes standard:

  • Angle blade
  • 24-inch bucket
  • Mechanical quick coupler
  • Hydraulic thumb
  • Work lights
  • Lift and boom cylinder guards

The cab has Bluetooth radio, A/C, and a monitor for adjusting operational and flow controls. Max digging depth hits 10.1 feet, max digging height reaches 15.5 feet, and arm digging force comes in at 4,946 pounds.

Kioti is pitching simplicity here. Everything a contractor needs is included from the factory. No options list to agonize over. No waiting for dealer-installed attachments. Buy it, trailer it, dig with it.

MX 350AE — The Long Arm Variant

Same machine as the 350A, but with a 15-inch longer arm. You get more reach at the expense of some digging force. For contractors doing utility work or digging around obstacles where reach matters more than raw breakout force, this is the one.

MX 570A — The Big Brother

Step up to the MX 570A and you’re in a different class. This one runs 48 horsepower, weighs 9,105 pounds, and offers serious specs:

  • Max digging depth: 11.5 feet
  • Max digging height: 18.7 feet
  • Arm digging force: 6,744 pounds

The cab gets a premium treatment with a pneumatic seat (versus the standard suspension seat in the 350 models), keyless start, and all functions integrated through the monitor. The 570A is clearly aimed at contractors who spend long hours in the seat and want the comfort to match.

How They Stack Up

Kioti is walking into a crowded room. The 3.5-ton class alone includes established options from Kubota (U35-5), Bobcat (E35), Cat (303.5), John Deere (35G), and a growing list of others. The 5-ton class is even more competitive.

On paper, the MX 350A looks competitive on specs. The included hydraulic thumb and quick coupler are nice touches that some competitors charge extra for. But specs only tell part of the story. What matters to buyers is dealer support, parts availability, resale value, and how the machine actually feels after 500 hours.

That’s where Kioti has some proving to do. Their CTL and skid steer line has been on the market for about three years now, and it’s built some credibility. But excavators are a different animal. Customers expect tight tail swing performance, smooth hydraulics, and a boom that doesn’t bounce around during fine grading work. Those are things you can’t put on a spec sheet. They take years of iteration to get right.

The Bigger Picture: Kioti’s Construction Ambitions

Zoom out and you can see where Kioti is heading. In 2023, they launched CTLs and skid steers. Now it’s mini excavators. The company clearly wants to be a full-line compact equipment manufacturer, not just a tractor brand that dabbles in construction.

The dealer network is their biggest asset here. Kioti has hundreds of dealers across North America, many of them in rural and suburban markets where contractors are price-sensitive and value a personal relationship with their dealer. If Kioti can offer a competitive machine at a lower price point than Cat or Kubota — and early pricing rumors suggest they will — those dealers have a real pitch for budget-conscious buyers.

The risk is overextension. Developing and supporting multiple product lines requires engineering depth, parts infrastructure, and technical training that tractor companies don’t always have. Kioti’s parent company, Daedong, has deep pockets and manufacturing capability. But North American contractors are unforgiving about downtime. If parts take three weeks to arrive or dealers can’t troubleshoot hydraulic issues, word travels fast.

What It Means for Contractors

If you’re in the market for a mini excavator this spring, Kioti just gave you another option to consider. The included standard features on the MX 350A make it worth a look, especially if you’re the type who hates paying for options packages.

But don’t buy one just because it’s new and shiny. Ask the dealer about parts lead times. Find out where the nearest service center is. Check if your local Kioti dealer actually has construction equipment experience or if they’ve been selling tractors and zero-turns for 20 years and are still figuring out the excavator side.

The machines look solid on paper. Whether they hold up in the dirt is a question that only time and hours will answer.

Deliveries start this spring. Pricing hasn’t been officially announced, but expect Kioti to come in below the established brands. That’s how you buy your way into a new market. The question is whether the machines can earn their way to staying there.