When the company began in 1912, it manufactured gasoline-powered engines. In 1920 the company began production of a small kerosene engine. In 1933, it launched the world’ s first practical small diesel engine, the HB model.

In 1961 the agricultural machinery division of the company was started.

Yanmar also started supplying engines to John Deere tractors and for some Thermo King Corporation coolers used in refrigerated trucks and trailers. Within the last 20 years, Yanmar has also established a growing presence in the domestic unmanned aerial vehicle( UAV) market in Japan and elsewhere, with small helicopter UAVs primarily used in agricultural spraying and other forms of aerial application.

As described on the company website,“ The name [ Yanmar ] is a combination of the Yanma Dragonfly( known by names such as Oniyanma and Ginyanma) and the“ Yama” from the name of the company founder Magokichi Yamaoka.”