Cummins Inc.
Market Data Current As Of: September 12, 2026
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Cummins Inc.
Compare market positioning with top industry peers
Explore Cummins
Core profile pages, annual revenue records, and related research hubs for this company.
Company History
Founded 1919 in Columbus, Indiana
Founded in Columbus, Indiana in 1919 by Clessie Lyle Cummins and William G. Irwin, the company has spent 105 years building the metallurgical and thermal engineering expertise that makes its diesel engines the benchmark for durability in commercial trucking. The original product was a diesel engine — a technology that was well-established in Europe but largely unused in American trucks at the time. International expansion began in the 1950s with an UK acquisition that gave Cummins an European manufacturing presence and access to British commercial vehicle manufacturers.
The founding of Cummins is a historic story of pragmatic Midwestern engineering and the financial patience required to commercialize an unproven technology. The company was founded in 1919 in Columbus, Indiana, by Clessie Cummins, a self-taught, brilliant mechanic, and William G. Irwin, his wealthy financial backer. Clessie Cummins was originally a chauffeur for Irwin (a local banker and industrialist). Cummins became fascinated by the diesel engine, an efficient European invention that was currently only used in stationary industrial applications or ships. Cummins firmly believed that if he could reduce the size and weight of the engine, it could revolutionize commercial transportation. He convinced Irwin to fund the Cummins Engine Company. However, the early years were a financial disaster. For a decade, the company produced unreliable engines that failed constantly, burning through amounts of Irwin's capital without generating a profit. Irwin repeatedly considered shutting the company down. To prove the viability of the technology, Clessie Cummins executed a series of publicized stunts. In 1931, he installed a Cummins diesel engine into a race car and drove the entire Indianapolis 500 without making a single pit stop, proving its unprecedented fuel efficiency. The foundational financial turning point occurred in 1933 with the introduction of the Model H engine, which finally offered the durability and power required for commercial trucking. Irwin's unwavering financial patience allowed Cummins to perfect the technology, establishing the foundational architecture of the modern American trucking industry and transforming a tiny Indiana garage into a globally dominant industrial titan.
Clessie Cummins and William G. Irwin found the Cummins Engine Company in Columbus, Indiana, and develop the first viable high-speed diesel engine in America, saving the startup from bankruptcy after several catastrophic prototype failures.
Following the onset of the Great Depression, the company pivots from agricultural implements to marine and heavy-duty truck applications, a decision that saved the company and established the foundation for a global industrial powerhouse.
Cummins engines power a truck on the first-ever cross-country diesel truck trip from Indianapolis to New York, proving the viability of diesel for commercial freight and generating word-of-mouth growth through the trucking industry.
Cummins acquires a manufacturing facility in Shotts, Scotland, marking its first major international expansion and establishing the template for future localized manufacturing footprints in key global markets.
The company acquires the Fleetguard filtration brand, marking its first major vertical integration beyond the core engine block and creating a high-margin consumables revenue stream that would generate billions in recurring aftermarket revenue.
Cummins launches the revolutionary ISX heavy-duty engine, which becomes the best-selling Class 8 engine in North American history, solidifying the company's 40% market share and dominance in the long-haul trucking segment.
Cummins formally organizes its generator set and alternator businesses into the Power Systems segment, entering the critical infrastructure and data center backup power market to diversify beyond commercial vehicles.
The company executes a major redesign of its flagship heavy-duty engine, introducing the X15 Efficiency Series to meet strict EPA 2017 emissions standards while improving fuel economy by 3%, capturing market share from competitors struggling with compliance.
Jennifer Rumsey becomes CEO and the company formally launches the Accelera division, committing $1 billion to commercialize hydrogen fuel cells, electrolyzers, and battery electric axles to own the next century of industrial power.
Cummins reports FY2024 net sales of $34.102 billion and $3.946 billion in net income attributable to Cummins Inc., reflecting the strength of its integrated business model before weaker truck demand pressured FY2025 sales.
Cummins reports FY2025 net sales of $33.670B and net income attributable to Cummins Inc. of $2.843B, with Power Systems and Distribution strength offsetting weaker North American truck markets.
Cummins acquired Fleetguard to vertically integrate its filtration and exhaust aftertreatment technologies, securing control over the mandatory maintenance cycle of every diesel engine sold and eliminating reliance on third-party suppliers for critical emissions compliance components.
Cummins acquired Onan to expand its footprint in the power generation market, specifically targeting the high-horsepower, critical infrastructure backup power segment for data centers, healthcare facilities, and telecommunications towers.
Cummins acquired the diesel fuel systems and filtration business from Johnson Controls to secure proprietary fuel injection technologies and expand its aftermarket footprint in the European and Asian markets.
Cummins initially formed a joint venture with Westport to develop natural gas engines, eventually acquiring full control of the heavy-duty natural gas technology to dominate the vocational and transit bus segments requiring low-emission alternatives to diesel.
Since its establishment in 1919, Cummins Inc. expanded from an early-stage venture into a recognized leader in Heavy Machinery & Engine Manufacturing, overcoming key market challenges.
Over its history, Cummins Inc. executed decisive strategic pivots toward scalable monetization and digital distribution, securing its current market leadership.
By continually modernizing operations and embracing workflow automation, Cummins Inc. maintains resilience through changing technological and economic cycles.