KIOTI’s MX Series mini excavators have received a 2026 Editor’s Choice Award from Rental magazine, recognizing the manufacturer’s first entry into the compact excavator market. The award comes less than four months after the series was officially introduced in North America on June 2, 2026.
The MX Series was selected in the Equipment category alongside products from established construction equipment manufacturers, including CASE, JCB, Kubota, and Wacker Neuson. Rental’s editorial team evaluated nominated products based on their potential impact on the equipment rental industry, considering their features, applications, and benefits for rental businesses.
The recognition marks an early milestone for KIOTI as it expands beyond its traditional agricultural equipment business into the North American compact construction machinery market.
KIOTI MX Series Models
The MX Series consists of three models covering two operating weight classes. The MX350A and MX350AE Extended Arm compete in the 3.5 ton category, while the larger MX570A targets applications requiring greater lifting capacity and digging performance.
According to KIOTI’s published specifications, the three machines offer the following technical characteristics.
| Specification | MX350A | MX350AE | MX570A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine power | 23.2 hp | 23.2 hp | 48 hp |
| Operating weight | 8,510 lb | 9,105 lb | 13,076 lb |
| Maximum digging depth | 10.1 ft | 11.3 ft | 11.5 ft |
| Maximum digging height | 15.5 ft | 15.9 ft | 18.7 ft |
| Tail swing | Zero | Reduced | Reduced |
Both MX350 models use a Yanmar 3TNV88F diesel engine with a displacement of 1.64 liters. The MX570A is powered by a larger Yanmar 4TNV86CT engine, delivering 48 hp for more demanding excavation and material handling operations.
The standard MX350A is designed for work in confined spaces, including residential construction, landscaping, and excavation near existing structures. Its zero tail swing configuration allows the upper structure to rotate without extending the rear of the machine beyond the track width.
The extended arm MX350AE provides approximately 1.2 feet of additional digging depth compared with the standard model. This makes it suitable for utility trenching, drainage installation, and other applications requiring greater reach.
The MX570A moves into a heavier equipment category, combining a 48 hp engine with an operating weight exceeding 13,000 pounds. Its additional mass and hydraulic capability make it suitable for commercial construction, deeper excavation, and more demanding lifting operations.
Standard Hydraulic Features
One of the defining characteristics of the MX Series is its standard equipment package.
KIOTI equips the machines with auxiliary hydraulics, a hydraulic thumb, a mechanical quick coupler, and a heavy duty angle blade. The excavators also feature two speed travel and hydraulic systems designed to support simultaneous machine movements.
The hydraulic thumb is particularly useful for handling irregular materials such as rocks, branches, and construction debris. Working together with the bucket, it allows the excavator to grip and position materials rather than relying exclusively on conventional digging operations.
The mechanical quick coupler simplifies attachment changes, while the angle blade supports backfilling, grading, and site preparation.
These features expand the range of tasks that can be completed with a single machine without requiring additional equipment purchases.
For rental businesses, standardized attachments and controls can also simplify fleet configuration, operator familiarization, and equipment preparation between rental contracts.
Rental Market Potential
The MX Series enters a competitive market in which rental operators must balance acquisition costs, equipment utilization, maintenance requirements, and customer demand.
KIOTI’s approach is particularly interesting because it concentrates on providing a comprehensive standard equipment package rather than introducing a large number of specialized configurations.
From a technical and operational perspective, this strategy addresses a practical challenge for rental fleets: equipment must be versatile enough to serve customers with different levels of experience and a wide variety of jobsite requirements.
A compact excavator equipped with a hydraulic thumb, auxiliary circuits, and an angle blade can move between trenching, landscaping, demolition cleanup, and material handling assignments without extensive reconfiguration.
In my view, this is exactly where KIOTI made a smart product decision. The company did not try to stand out through an exotic concept or a highly niche machine. Instead, it focused on practical features that matter in everyday rental use. That does not guarantee long term success, but it gives the MX Series a stronger chance of being evaluated on real jobsite value rather than on novelty alone.
At the same time, the real test for KIOTI will be long term durability, service support, parts availability, and lifecycle cost. Those factors decide whether a new excavator line becomes a serious fleet option or remains a short term curiosity.
KIOTI’s Construction Expansion
The MX Series represents another step in KIOTI’s expansion into compact construction equipment.
The manufacturer introduced the excavators after entering the skid steer and compact track loader segments with the SL750 and TL750 models.
This broader construction push is part of a larger growth strategy by parent company Daedong, which has identified compact construction equipment as an important business segment in North America.
The development of the MX Series also allows KIOTI dealers to offer excavation and material handling equipment alongside compact tractors and loaders, expanding the brand’s reach across landscaping, property maintenance, agriculture, and construction applications.
About KIOTI
KIOTI is the international equipment brand of South Korean manufacturer Daedong Corporation, founded in 1947. The company introduced its first tractor to the United States in 1986 and established Daedong-USA in 1993. Its North American headquarters is located in Wendell, North Carolina.
In 2026, KIOTI marks 40 years in the North American market. The brand reports a dealer network of more than 500 locations and offers tractors, utility vehicles, zero turn mowers, skid steer loaders, compact track loaders, and mini excavators.
Daedong operates in about 70 countries and has annual agricultural machinery production capacity of roughly 130,000 units, according to company figures.
