For years, competition in the construction machinery industry centered on hardware—power output, payload capacity, cycle times, and mechanical durability. Today, that era is fading. A new phase of “intelligent competition” has arrived, where digitalization, automation, and AI integration now define global leadership. Major OEMs across the world are restructuring strategies around smart technologies as their top priority.
Caterpillar
Industry giant Caterpillar recently announced that CEO Jim Umpleby will deliver a keynote speech at CES 2026.
Traditionally a showcase for consumer electronics, smart mobility, and emerging technologies, CES has seldom featured heavy machinery leaders in its main sessions. Caterpillar’s presence signals its ambition to reposition itself—not merely as a conventional equipment manufacturer, but as a high-tech solutions provider integrating AI, autonomy, energy innovation, and digital twins.
Hitachi Construction Machinery
On October 28, Hitachi Construction Machinery announced that it will change its corporate name to LANDCROS Corporation starting April 1, 2027.
The company stated that the construction and mining sectors now face complex challenges—from labor shortages and environmental regulations to rising operating costs and aging infrastructure.
Relying solely on hardware-centric business models is no longer viable. Hitachi aims to evolve into a comprehensive solutions provider, developing next-generation machinery powered by AI, robotics, sensing, and advanced communications, while offering lifecycle services and digital platforms to support customers’ operational needs.
Zoomlion
Zoomlion has accelerated its investment in AI, cloud computing, big data, and IoT technologies.
The company leads the industry in patent filings related to digital technologies and operates one of the most advanced industrial internet systems in the sector.
With its robotics R&D platform and simulation environment, Zoomlion plans to gradually “roboticize” its equipment lineup, enabling intelligent single-machine operation and coordinated multi-machine collaboration, reshaping competitive dynamics across the industry.
XCMG
XCMG views intelligence as the core direction of the industry’s future.
Several of its machines have already achieved L4 autonomous operation, particularly in high-risk environments such as mining and paving.
On May 15, the company delivered the first batch of 100 ZNK95 pure-electric autonomous mining trucks to Huaneng Yimin, forming the world’s first commercialized 100-unit unmanned electric haulage fleet—known as the “Huaneng Ruichi” intelligent transportation system.
SANY Group
SANY states that rapid advancement in AI will bring transformative change to construction machinery—from smart navigation and remote control to autonomous learning and collaborative operations.
The company has embedded digitalization across manufacturing, product development, services, and operations, launching autonomous excavators, L4 autonomous engineering vehicles, and unmanned paving and compaction fleets.
In June, SANY’s unmanned paving fleet set three industry records on the Jingha Expressway, including continuous automated paving for over 480 hours and achieving the widest dual-machine unmanned paving configuration to date.
Shantui
On June 19, Shantui unveiled the industry’s first AI bulldozer and inaugurated its new integrated test center.
The machine incorporates an intelligent machine system plus an AI assistant, with nine core smart modules covering power optimization, construction safety, and coordinated operations.
Shantui reports that its current smart equipment has reached L3 capability, with L4 technologies already reserved. Operators are evolving from equipment handlers to mission commanders, and the company aims to advance toward fully unmanned L5 operations through an integrated “AI assistant + machine cluster” ecosystem.
Conclusion
The industry has clearly shifted from hardware-driven competition to an intelligence-driven future.
Su Zimeng, President of the China Construction Machinery Association, emphasized that digitalization is reshaping the global industry landscape. Advancing AI-powered safety, solving complex operational challenges, upgrading from “single-machine intelligence” to “system-level intelligence,” and accelerating green innovation will be the key drivers of the sector’s next stage of high-quality development.
