New Compact Loaders, Jobsite Companion and Bobcat Sense Headlined Bobcat’s CONEXPO 2026 Showcase

At CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026, Bobcat used Las Vegas to present a broader update of its compact equipment strategy, built around new loader categories, more operator-focused technology and a stronger push toward AI-assisted jobsite functions. The company’s message was not just about adding another model or two. It was about making compact loaders easier to understand, easier to operate and easier to adapt to a changing workforce.

The biggest shift was in the loader lineup itself. Bobcat introduced the next evolution of its compact loaders by splitting the range into two clearer categories, Classic and Pro, rather than relying only on the old series logic. Classic was positioned as the familiar, proven path for customers who wanted straightforward ownership and everyday productivity, while Pro became the premium tier, built around upgraded electrical and control systems, a more advanced in-cab experience and a wider set of integrated technologies.

Within that Pro category, Bobcat put the spotlight on updated skid-steer and compact track loader models including the S64-2, S66-2, S76-2, S86-2 and T64-2, T66-2, T76-2, T86-2. The company said the Pro machines brought four selectable drive modes, refreshed interiors, heated air-ride seats, an 8-inch touchscreen display with infotainment, and an integrated rear camera. At the top of the range, the T86-2 and S86-2 were positioned as new benchmark machines, with 115 hp and a 12-foot lift height aimed at tougher, more demanding jobs.

Bobcat also used the show to make technology a central part of the story. One of the headline features was Jobsite Companion, which the company described as the first AI-enabled solution in the compact equipment industry. Available as an option on Pro loaders in the U.S., it was presented as a way to simplify operation through voice commands, automated attachment settings and real-time jobsite insights, while automating more than 50 machine functions and giving operators clearer visibility into job cost performance.

Safety and operator awareness formed the second major technology pillar. Bobcat introduced new jobsite awareness systems based on both camera and radar technology, including Bobcat View camera options and Bobcat Sense Detection Systems. These included rear object detection and avoidance, which could alert the operator or automatically slow or stop the loader, and a 360 people detection system designed to identify workers around the machine. In practical terms, Bobcat was pushing the idea that awareness technology would become an increasingly important part of compact equipment, especially as experience gaps widen across the labor force.

Taken together, Bobcat’s CONEXPO 2026 presentation was less about one single machine launch and more about a new product logic. The company used the show to connect updated loaders, clearer product positioning, AI-based assistance and detection systems into one argument: compact equipment had to become simpler to choose, easier to run and smarter on the jobsite. In Las Vegas, that was the real Bobcat novelty.

New Compact Loaders, Jobsite Companion and Bobcat Sense Headlined Bobcat’s CONEXPO 2026 Showcase published on The HeavyQuip Magazine.