Cat Trial 14: After Hours

The roots of Caterpillar’s innovative spirit can be traced back to before the 1920s, with the groundbreaking work of Holt Manufacturing Company and C. L. Best Gas Traction Company. Following World War I, these two companies found themselves at a crossroads. The market was flooded with surplus machines, depressing demand for new tractors. Best brought to the table a strong domestic market presence, an advanced dealer network, and a diverse product line. Holt contributed its worldwide reputation, the iconic “Caterpillar” name, and state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities. Their merger in 1925 laid the foundation for what Caterpillar is today.

Throughout the past century, Caterpillar expanded globally and worked inventively to benefit worldwide customers. For example, the company introduced game-changing products such as the D10 track-type tractor with an elevated sprocket design and the 797 mining truck. Plus, it embraced technological advancements in multiple ways, such as introducing an autonomous mining truck in 1996 to help customers increase job-site safety.

And now, as we celebrate our centennial in 2025, we’re proud to introduce a line of Limited Edition Centennial Grey paint machines, represented by the Cat^® Centennial D3 Dozer in Cat Trial 14: After Hours, as a testament to our enduring legacy. The Cat Trial 14 video also features other noteworthy machines, including the versatile Cat TH1255 Telehandler and a one-of-a-kind, real-life Power Loader, built by Hacksmith Entertainment, based on the iconic, futuristic machine from a popular movie franchise.
 

Cat Trial 14: After Hours showcases a power display that features industrial, marine products, and electric power that meet worldwide power needs in an impactful way. In fact, if we were to aggregate all of Caterpillar’s current genset power, it would be enough to power the entire country of Brazil—the world’s seventh-largest consumer of power, with a population of 214 million.

All of these power offerings are part of our broader strategy to support customers where, when and how they need power to get the job done.
 

Caterpillar’s worldwide presence has been a cornerstone of our success since the early days, when our heavy-equipment models began making their mark around the world. In 1908, the first Holt Manufacturing Company gasoline-powered “Caterpillar” track-type tractor was sold, quickly finding its way across the globe. By 1914, Caterpillar machines were introduced in Asia, with the first units sold in Indonesia for plowing sugar-cane fields. Soon after, customers in India and Japan were experiencing the benefits of our products.

Today, the Cat^® dealer network stands as a leader in the industry, covering more than 190 countries with nearly 170,000 Cat dealer employees worldwide. Many of these dealerships are independent, familyowned businesses, and some even predate Caterpillar’s 1925 founding. The average Cat dealership worldwide boasts over 50 years of experience, a testament to the enduring relationships we have built over the decades.
 

As we celebrate the past, we also look toward the future—and we will continue to help our valued customers do the work in which they excel. Our commitment to them is unwavering, as evidenced by our substantial investment in research and development. In the 2023 financial year alone, Caterpillar allocated $2.1 billion to R&D to ensure that our engineers are constantly innovating and anticipating future trends. This proactive approach ensures that when our customers need new solutions, we’re not just ready—we’re ahead of the curve. That’s what they count on.

With Cat Trial 14: After Hours, we celebrate our customer’s success by spotlighting the rich history of cutting-edge solutions. In full support of them, we will continue to shape the future of the industries we serve for the next hundred years and beyond.