Metabo is being rebranded as Metabo HPT.
Back in 2015, Hitachi acquired the Metabo tool brand. In 2017, Hitachi sold their power tools group to KRR, a private equity firm. One year later, Hitachi Power Tools, which was no longer owned by Hitachi, changed their name to Metabo HPT in North America and HiKoki internationally.
Now, I have been told that Metabo is being rebranded as Metabo HPT, and the new tools have popped up at online retailers.
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Metabo HPT has answered many of our questions, and are working to answer the remainders. Following are some key points from our conversation.
The transition will occur in phases, with select Metabo tools being rebranded as Metabo HPT with all tools to be sold under the Metabo HPT name by April 2026.
With emphasis as provided:
This is a rebranding update only. Our tools, performance standards, and warranties remain unchanged.
This strategic move strengthens our unified brand presence in North America while maintaining the quality and innovation both brands are known for.
Thus far, it appears that Metabo AC powered tools are all being rebranded as Metabo HPT. What about cordless?
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The official word is:
We will maintain a comprehensive cordless portfolio with battery solutions to support both current and future tools. For customers with existing Metabo cordless tools, we will continue to provide Metabo batteries for the foreseeable future.
It sounds like Metabo is being absorbed into Metabo HPT, with the two brands destined to become one. What about CAS, Metabo’s “cordless alliance system,” which is similar to Bosch’s AmpShare?
Multiple readers emailed me about both insider and unofficial reports of a cordless power tool battery conversion adapter that will allow compatibility between Metabo and Metabo HPT 18V cordless systems. We’re still waiting on information about this.
They did say that all tools will be sold under the Metabo HPT name by April 2026.
This is all part of a strategic brand consolidation in North America, which suggests that HiKoki and Metabo will exist as separate brands internationally outside of the continent. Within North America, only Metabo HPT will emerge from this consolidation and rebranding effort.
Let’s say that Metabo launches a new 18V cordless grinder next year. Will we see that in the USA under Metabo HPT and with HPT MultiVolt compatibility? Not at all? Or will it ship under Metabo HPT branding with an adapter that’s required for use with Metabo HPT 18V or MultiVolt batteries?
Nothing I have seen provides any insights or information about potential changes outside the USA, such as to Metabo, HiKoki, or the Metabo CAS system.
North American interest in Metabo seems to have been flat for years, and there has been confusion over Metabo HPT and Metabo cordless power tool incompatibilities since they departed from Hitachi.
Perhaps this brand consolidation will foster growth. It’s too soon to know what everything will look like, but it seems that there will be Metabo and HiKoki internationally, and a combined Metabo HPT entity in the USA and North America.
Fein recently ditched their own 18V cordless power tools system and fully embraced Bosch AmpShare 18V compatibility.
Here, Metabo seems to be ditching CAS 18V compatibility in the USA and changing over to Metabo HPT.
Consider Stanley Black & Decker brands such as Dewalt, Bostitch, and Porter Cable. Consolidation – under Dewalt – seems to have work out well, although Bostitch and Porter Cable continue to exist, barely.
Metabo HPT is not the first brand name exclusive to North America. Select AEG tools, for example, are rebranded under Ridgid 18V at Home Depot stores.
We’re at a point of inflection for Metabo and Metabo HPT branding, but what they’re doing is not unprecedented
We’ll have to see how Metabo’s rebranding as Metabo HPT works out. So far, it seems that Metabo 18V cordless power tool users will be impacted the most, and we’re still waiting to hear about what will be done to make things easier for them.
Jared
This could be GREAT – or a mess. The two names being so alike was inherently confusing, so if they’re consolidating under one – that seems ideal.
However, if they’re going to carry on with two lines of cordless tools with incompatible battery connections and the same name, that’s worse. Even if they include an adapter, won’t people just be wondering if they just bought an Metabo HPT tool or a Metabo secretly-not-an-HPT tool?
MM
Agreed. If they dropped one of the battery systems and made all the tools work on just one battery that would be fantastic. However, having two incompatible lines with the same name is even worse than the nonsense they have going on right now.
As for Metabo specifically, I think they are a bit of a niche brand in the US currently. I doubt the average general contractor or DIYer cares about the brand at all. However, they are well known in the welding/fabrication space. All my local welding supply shops carry Metabo grinders & sanders, of which there are many specialty models.
Goodie
Ughhh. I think there was room for both of them, if they had chosen to market the old Hitachi line as Hikoki here in the U.S. I like both of these brands, and think of the ex-Hitachi Metabo HPT as a great framing/construction brand. I think of Metabo for metalworking and the CAS system (and as a very innovative cordless pioneer making great German designed tools). We will see.
Kent
>> What about CAS, Metabo’s “cordless alliance system,” which is similar to Bosch’s AmpShare?
I love that there are two “universal” battery standards.
https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/standards.png
Rog
They should all be HiKoki, mostly just cuz I think it’s a fun name to say.
BobH
For the corded tools, I don’t think it matters. Will anyone notice if it says Metabo or Metabo HPT?
It sounds like Metabo and Metabo HPT cordless use different battery systems. This is going to be a giant mess for their customers. I bet it will turn out to be justification to move to a differnet system from Dewalt/Milwaukee/etc.
Bonnie
Ideally they’d just pick one battery type and make an adapter for the other (like when Dewalt moved to slides rather than stems). I’m sure there’s bigger issues like where the controller/protection circuit is, but I absolutely believe they could do it.
HmmmDusty
Treat it is what it is, but they have filed patents for a battery brick that would clip into a low profile adapter that then makes it compatible with either Metabo HPT (Hikoki) or Metabo. This essentially would create a unified battery platform, and would just need to have the tools sold with their respective baseplate adapter to make it fully usable.
John
This will be a mess. Zero compatibility between the two battery platforms. Private equity is about the dumbest there is.
Champs
This is just to my own ears, but HiKoki is just a little too close to an Amazon alphabet brand name generated by someone in a Shenzen factory randomly mashing keys on a keyboard. Lowe’s may sell it as a value brand, but it’s not THAT cheap.
I know Metabo doesn’t ring a bell for every consumer out there, but at least it sounds like something I’d feel comfortable asking my doctor to prescribe.
MM
Hikoki is perfectly normal-sounding Japanese. It happens to mean “airplane”.
Xrh07
Doesn’t sound like that at all.
It’s pretty well in line with Hitachi, Makita, Takeuchi, Komatsu and at least dozen other Japanese brands sold in NA for decades.
They would’ve been smarter to lean into worldwide Hikoki branding as it’s still similar enough to the OG name (Hitachi) and not have Metabo Germany products directly affiliated to those as all they’ve done every step of the way is cause unnecessary consumer confusion
JeffD
Sadly, I lost friends because I didn’t choose yellow or blue tools when I upgraded.
NoDak Farming
I’ve been looking at both Metabo’s product line, and Hikoki offerings overseas. Metabo and Hikoki both have barrel grip jigsaws. Whereas MetaboHPT does not. I think Hikoki is already on version 2 of an oil impulse driver. Overseas they offer 36 volt versions of tools that are only offered as 18 volt here. If they chose to they could be offering US customers a more robust lineup of tools. And overall I just would like to see them be more mindful of the North American market and start bringing over more tool offerings.
Just as an example it would be interesting if they would bring us a Metabo -renamed MetaboHPT- barrel grip jigsaw configured for MetaboHPT batteries. They would most likely have to keep producing batteries for the older Metabo tools that people own already. But that’s not unheard of. Hilti is currently doing that with their batteries. I visit their website once in a while and it seems like in North America they’ve nearly eliminated the old battery platform, and gone nearly 100% to the Nuron platform. While still offering new batteries in the old style along with chargers and battery adapters. On foreign Hilti websites it seems like they are offering a little more of a blend between the old and new battery platform.
One way or another it will get figured out and I’ll keep buying MetaboHPT tools. I’ve been using the ones I have already, a lot lately. They always feel good as far as ergonomics, and always perform well too. Not to mention some nice features that I’ve come to appreciate. I think their flex volt battery system is great and I’m glad I bought into it.
MattW.
It seems like every time yoy take away good brand recognition it hurts especially in the usa. I go to Lowes often and almost every time when people are going through the tool section I hear what’s a metabo never herd of them. I ussaly say do you remember Hitachi thats what it is. That jogs many people’s thoughts on the tools. That simple name change can really damage sales. In a store with craftsman or metabo around the same price ill take metabo aka Hitachi any day of the week.
Jronman
Best case scenario CAS and Multivolt somehow become compatible. CAS brands having access to higher voltage and the corded power supply could be a nice option to have.