Caterpillar Inc.

Caterpillar Inc. traces its corporate formation to the 1925 merger of Holt Manufacturing Company and C. L. Best Tractor Co. The merger combined Holt’s worldwide reputation, manufacturing facilities and Caterpillar trademark with Best’s domestic market position, tractor designs and dealer network; the resulting company was initially headquartered in San Leandro, California. [1] The corporate name changed from Caterpillar Tractor Co. to Caterpillar Inc. in 1986 as the business broadened beyond tractors. [2]

The name itself grew from Benjamin Holt’s track-type tractor. [3] In 1904, Holt replaced the wheels of a steam tractor with tracks so it could work on soft agricultural soil; an observer compared the machine’s undulating movement to a caterpillar, and Holt registered “Caterpillar” as a trademark in 1910. [3]

Caterpillar’s current business includes construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural-gas engines, industrial gas turbines, diesel-electric locomotives and financial services through Cat Financial. [4] Its primary operating segments are Power & Energy, Construction Industries and Resource Industries. [4] Caterpillar reported 2025 sales and revenues of $67.6 billion. [4]

The company sells primarily through a large independent dealer network that supplies equipment, parts, service and technical support, while some products are sold directly to end customers. [5] Caterpillar says its manufacturing, marketing, logistics, service and research facilities, together with dealer locations, total more than 500 sites worldwide, giving the company a lifecycle-support model that is central to how its machinery is used in construction, mining, energy and infrastructure. [5]