Having worked in the excavator industry for several years, I’ve formed my own impressions of different brands. Once, while chatting with industry peers, we discussed which excavators offer the worst value for money in China. Based on our experience, we summed up a few brands that we think have the lowest cost-performance ratio. Of course, this is just a personal perspective — others may have different opinions.

Top 5 Excavator Brands with Poor Value for Money

1. Liebherr

Although marketed as “German quality,” the models assembled in Dalian, China, show a significant drop in quality compared to original imports. Despite this, prices remain extremely high — even higher than Caterpillar and Volvo — and spare parts are expensive and hard to source. As a result, Liebherr excavators are rarely seen on Chinese job sites; people have heard of the name but hardly ever see the machines.

  • Performance Competitiveness: ★★★★
  • Brand Recognition: ★★★★★
  • Spare Parts Availability: ★★
  • Price Competitiveness: ★
  • Dealer Network: ★★
  • Overall Value for Money: ★★★

2. Case

Promoted as an American brand, but in reality, their large excavators are just rebranded Sumitomo machines and their compact excavators are rebranded Kobelco machines. However, the prices jump straight to a premium Western level. The dealer network is inconsistent, and buyers often regret the purchase.

  • Performance Competitiveness: ★★★★★
  • Brand Recognition: ★★★
  • Spare Parts Availability: ★★★
  • Price Competitiveness: ★
  • Dealer Network: ★
  • Overall Value for Money: ★★

3. Terex (Compact Excavators)

Terex acquired a small local company in Sanhe County, Hebei Province, and claimed to adopt German Schaeff technology (Terex did acquire Schaeff’s mini excavator plant in Germany). But the quality still reflects a small-town manufacturing level. The dealer network has changed hands multiple times, as has the workforce, with no clear improvement. Most likely, Terex compact excavators will eventually exit the Chinese market — so buyers should be prepared for this risk.

  • Performance Competitiveness: ★★★
  • Brand Recognition: ★★★
  • Spare Parts Availability: ★★★
  • Price Competitiveness: ★★
  • Dealer Network: ★
  • Overall Value for Money: ★

4. Atlas

Produced by Terex at a factory in Baotou, Inner Mongolia. Baotou is not ideal for excavator manufacturing due to its distance from key supply chains and a shortage of skilled workers. The quality is predictable under such conditions, yet prices are aligned with European levels. After many years, sales have only declined, just like Liebherr — high on name, low on substance.

  • Performance Competitiveness: ★★★★
  • Brand Recognition: ★★★
  • Spare Parts Availability: ★★
  • Price Competitiveness: ★
  • Dealer Network: ★
  • Overall Value for Money: ★★

5. Volvo

Globally known for safe cars, but its excavators are less impressive. After acquiring Korea’s Samsung, there was little quality improvement, but prices skyrocketed. “Swedish quality” is used as a marketing hook for Chinese buyers, and unfortunately, many fall for it. Insiders know that selling Volvo excavators is highly profitable — low production cost, high retail price, and big dealer margins. If you’re considering a Volvo excavator, ask yourself: do you want to make money for yourself or for the dealer?

  • Performance Competitiveness: ★★★★
  • Brand Recognition: ★★★★★
  • Spare Parts Availability: ★★★
  • Price Competitiveness: ★
  • Dealer Network: ★★★
  • Overall Value for Money: ★★

Note:
This list reflects only the views of a few industry insiders and does not represent absolute facts. Always do your own research before making a purchase decision.

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