BEIJING—Caterpillar Inc. (Peoria, IL) is introducing its rental store concept—one that has already proved successful in other parts of the world—to the China market. Already, the company has opened 12 Chinese rental stores, with more on the way.

"These Cat rental stores will give our Chinese customers greater access to the machines and tools they need—for a few hours, a few days or months at a time—so they can complete the projects they are working on," says Rod Beeler, Caterpillar vice president for Asia Pacific marketing. "A customer coming into one of these new rental stores will have the full product support they expect from Caterpillar and its independent dealers, including the option to rent, lease or buy new or used equipment and even to obtain financing from Caterpillar China Financial Leasing."

The Cat rental store concept has already been implemented in approximately 1,400 locations in 40 countries.