Caterpillar enters the compact utility loader market with the TUL100, adding four more compact machines at the same time

Caterpillar has formally launched five compact machines simultaneously, closing a long-standing gap in its lineup by entering the compact utility loader segment for the first time. The five new models are the TUL100 compact utility loader, the 253 compact track loader, the 301 CR micro hydraulic excavator, and the 302.4 CR and 302.6 mini excavators. All five will be on display and available to operate at Equip Exposition in Louisville, Kentucky, on 21-23 October 2026.

The TUL100: Cat's first compact utility loader

Caterpillar is entering a fast-growing segment of the compact equipment market with its first compact utility loader, closing a notable gap in its construction machinery portfolio. The company's new TUL100 marks its entry into a category long dominated by specialist manufacturers including Bobcat, Kubota, Toro, Ditch Witch, and Vermeer.

Compact utility loaders ranked fifth among new financed equipment sales categories, with nearly 11,000 units sold in 2025, according to data cited at ConExpo 2026. That figure was cited at ConExpo 2026, where Cat first previewed the machine.

The TUL100's published specifications:

• Engine: Cat C1.1 turbo diesel, 24 hp (17.9 kW), Tier 4 Final without aftertreatment
• Rated operating capacity: 1,000 lb (454 kg)
• Operating weight: approximately 3,600 lb (1,633 kg)
• Maximum lift height: 7 ft (2.1 m)
• Hydraulic flow: 16 gpm at 3,046 psi (32.5 hydraulic hp)
• Track width options: 36 in (914 mm) narrow or 42 in (1,067 mm) wide

Three configurations will be offered at launch: a 36-inch narrow track with a CII coupler, a 42-inch wide track with a CII coupler, and a 42-inch wide track fitted with an NSSL narrow skid steer loader coupler. Attachments under development for the launch include augers, power box rakes, trenchers, buckets, and forks. The TUL100 is also available with Cat VisionLink fleet management technology.

North American commercial availability is planned for early 2027. Production starts at the end of 2026, with sales starting in early 2027.

The 253 compact track loader

Designed as a versatile solution for grading and material handling, the new Cat 253 compact track loader offers a 2,006-lb (910-kg) rated operating capacity and an operating weight of 9,343 lb (4,238 kg), supporting easier transport between jobsites.

Building on the Cat 259D3 foundation, the 253 integrates a next-generation one-piece undercarriage with rigid frame-mounted axles designed to support traction and stability when handling heavy loads. Its four fully independent axles mount directly to the frame to enhance grading capability, while the new 15-in (380-mm) general-duty C-Pattern tracks are designed to increase ground engagement and deliver strong grip in mud and other soft underfoot conditions.

Caterpillar is keeping the configuration options deliberately straightforward, offering just two variants. A canopy machine comes with a mechanical coupler and standard-flow hydraulics delivering 20 gpm (75.7 lpm) at 3,336 psi, while a cab version features a hydraulic coupler and high-flow hydraulics rated at 30 gpm (112 lpm) at the same pressure, enabling the machine to run higher-demand hydromechanical attachments.

Standard features include air suspension heated seats, electronic work tool harnesses, a backup camera, adjustable joystick pods, VisionLink telematics, dual self-level, return-to-dig/attachment positioner and float functionality, and creep mode with two-speed. North American availability is in the second half of 2026.

Three new mini excavators

The remaining three machines extend Cat's excavator lineup at its smallest end.

Cat 301 CR micro excavator

Caterpillar has introduced the new Cat 301 CR hydraulic mini excavator, engineered for contractors and utility crews working in confined spaces. The machine combines a compact footprint with improved lifting capacity, digging performance, and operating speed compared to its predecessor, the Cat 300.9D.

Key specifications:

• Engine: Cat C1.1, 15.7 hp
• Operating weight: approximately 2,712 lb (1,230 kg) maximum
• Dig depth: 71.7 in (1,821 mm)
• Maximum reach: 124 in (3,150 mm)
• Undercarriage: retracts from 43.3 in to 28.7 in

The 301 CR can pass through doorways measuring 30 in (762 mm) wide and 78 in (1,981 mm) tall, making it suitable for indoor demolition, utility excavation, and other space-restricted applications. Caterpillar states the 301 CR is 26% wider than the 300.9D with its undercarriage fully expanded, and that lift capacity has increased by more than 80% over the outgoing model.

Cat 302.4 CR and 302.6

Complementing the Cat 302, the new 302.4 CR and 302.6 give customers two additional solutions in the 2.4- and 2.6-ton class sizes. Both machines are designed to meet most towing requirements for easy transport.

• The 302.4 CR has a wider 59-in (1,499-mm) track width than the 302 CR and offers a lift capacity of 2,160 lb (980 kg), with a top travel speed of 3 mph (4.8 km/h).
• The 302.6 has an operating weight of 6,681 lb (3,030 kg), light enough to be transported without a commercial driver's license (CDL).
• The 302.6 offers more than 1,000 lb higher lift capacity than the outgoing 302.7 CR.

What to watch

The TUL100 is the most consequential of the five launches. Rental fleets will be the primary buyers when North American sales open in early 2027, and the machine's three coupler configurations - including the NSSL option - are a direct play for operators who already run mixed-brand fleets. With the 253 in place, Caterpillar will offer 11 compact track loader models ranging from 67.1 to 122 horsepower, giving dealers a denser lineup to place across fleet orders. The 302.6's sub-CDL transport weight is a practical selling point for rental companies managing delivery logistics. Whether Cat can take meaningful share from established compact utility loader incumbents - in a segment that has been growing for years without a Cat product in it - is the question the TUL100's 2027 sales figures will answer.