Caterpillar vs John Deere: Founders, CEOs and History

Company facts

Founders

CEOs and their tenures

Timeline: Caterpillar and John Deere side by side

1. 1837John Deere

   John Deere Founds the Company

   John Deere develops the first commercially successful self-scouring steel plow in Grand Detour, Illinois, after observing that sticky prairie soil would not shed cleanly from common cast-iron plows.

2. 1837John Deere

   Steel Plow Invented

   John Deere built a self-scouring steel plow in Grand Detour, Illinois, in 1837.

3. 1848John Deere

   Move to Moline

   Deere moves the business to Moline, Illinois, where river access, transportation links, and supplier proximity make it easier to scale from a blacksmith shop into a manufacturer.

4. 1904Caterpillar

   Benjamin Holt Invents Track-Type Tractor

   Benjamin Holt replaces wheels with continuous tracks on a steam tractor, leading to the invention of the 'Caterpillar' track-type tractor.

5. 1918John Deere

   Waterloo Boy Tractor Company Acquired

   Deere bought the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company, maker of the Waterloo Boy tractor, in 1918.

6. 1925Caterpillar

   Caterpillar Tractor Co. Formed

   Holt Manufacturing Company and C. L. Best Tractor Company merge to form Caterpillar Tractor Co., combining their strengths and technologies.

7. 1931Caterpillar

   First Diesel Tractor

   Caterpillar introduces its first diesel engine-powered track-type tractor, the 'Sixty,' offering improved fuel efficiency and power.

8. 1942Caterpillar

   Wartime Production Boost

   During WWII, Caterpillar equipment is central in military construction efforts, significantly expanding production capacity.

9. 1950Caterpillar

   Global Expansion Begins

   Caterpillar establishes its first overseas subsidiary in Great Britain, marking the beginning of its extensive international expansion.

10. 1958John Deere

    Deere & Company Incorporated

    Deere & Company is incorporated in Delaware, formalizing the modern public-company structure behind the John Deere brand.

11. 1963Caterpillar

    Founding of Caterpillar Financial

    Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation is established to provide financing options for customers and dealers, facilitating equipment sales.

12. 1986Caterpillar

    Renamed Caterpillar Inc.

    The company changes its name from Caterpillar Tractor Co. To Caterpillar Inc., reflecting its diversified product lines beyond just tractors.

13. 2000John Deere

    Robert W. Lane becomes CEO

    Robert W. Lane became CEO of Deere & in 2000. Lane's contribution was managerial modernization.

14. 2009John Deere

    Samuel R. Allen becomes CEO

    Samuel R. Allen became CEO of Deere & in 2009. Allen's contribution was to internationalize and diversify Deere while preserving the company's premium equipment brand and dealer economics.

15. 2011Caterpillar

    Acquisition of Bucyrus International

    Caterpillar acquires Bucyrus International, a major mining equipment manufacturer, significantly expanding its Resource Industries portfolio.

16. 2017Caterpillar

    Focus on Services and Digital

    Caterpillar emphasizes growth in services, digital solutions (Cat Connect), and autonomous technology as key strategic initiatives.

17. 2017John Deere

    Wirtgen and Blue River Deals

    Deere signs major acquisitions on two sides of its strategy. Wirtgen gives Deere a deeper roadbuilding platform in construction equipment, while Blue River Technology adds computer vision and machine learning capabilities for plant-level precision agriculture.…

18. 2019John Deere

    John C. May Becomes CEO

    John C. May becomes chief executive officer on November 4, 2019, after serving as president and chief operating officer and after earlier roles in agricultural solutions, information technology, turf, utility, and international operations.

19. 2021John Deere

    Acquired Bear Flag Robotics

    Deere & acquired Bear Flag Robotics for $250 million. Deere acquired Bear Flag Robotics to accelerate autonomous operation in agriculture, including technology that can allow existing machines to perform field work with less direct human control.

20. 2022Caterpillar

    Headquarters Relocation to Texas

    Caterpillar announces the relocation of its global headquarters from Deerfield, Illinois, to Irving, Texas, to better serve its global business.

21. 2025Caterpillar

    Joseph E. Creed Becomes CEO

    Joseph E. Creed becomes Caterpillar CEO in 2025, succeeding D. James Umpleby III, who served as Executive Chairman until retiring on April 1, 2026.

22. 2025Caterpillar

    FY2025 Sales and Revenues Reach $67.589 Billion

    Caterpillar reports FY2025 sales and revenues of $67.589 billion and profit of $8.882 billion.

23. 2025John Deere

    FY2025 Revenue of $45.684B

    Deere reports FY2025 net sales and revenues of $45.684 billion and net income attributable to Deere & Company of $5.027 billion, down from the prior cycle peak but still profitable through weaker equipment demand.

24. 2026John Deere

    Right-to-Repair Settlement and Profit Rebound

    On July 8, 2026, Deere settled the FTC and five-state antitrust case over repair access, agreeing to give farmers and independent repair providers the same repair tools as dealers for 10 years.

Acquisitions

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