Yanmar was established in Japan in 1912 and has a rich history in the production of small diesel engines. The company's agricultural equipment division was launched in 1961. In the early 1980s, Yanmar collaborated with John Deere to manufacture a range of utility tractor models for the company. Yanmar remains a key engine supplier for Deere's utility tractors. In 2006, Yanmar partnered with MTD to market compact tractors under the Cub Cadet Yanmar brand in North America. However, this partnership concluded in 2011, and Yanmar America became the exclusive supplier of these tractors.