Powersports News

Neighborhood Vehicle Report

Power Products Marketing has developed a U.S. Neighborhood Vehicle Market Report available for purchase. PPM identifies the market as street-legal vehicles going above 15-mph, but under 25-mph. These vehicles are segmented into LSV and PTV categories, which in the U.S. has 50+ suppliers in the market.

Our study provides the following:
1. Neighborhood Vehicle Sales for 2006-2008 for all suppliers
2. LSV sales vs. PTV sales segmentation
3. Specs on each vehicle offered by each supplier
4. Reconditioned/off lease golf cars converted to a NV is documented by supplier

UTV Sales Flat in 2008

Retail sales of UTV sales in the U.S. for 2008 were about the same as the previous year, according to a report prepared by Power Products Marketing.

Power Products Marketing is a Minneapolis research firm that tracks production and retail sales figures for OEMs in powersports, agriculture, construction, marine and the lawn and garden markets.

Retail sales in 2007 and 2008 were about 265,000 units, and sales for 2009 are expected to be about the same, writes Dave Crocker, author of the report. PPM

Changes at Polaris

It's going to be very interesting to watch the changes at Polaris' on-road division announced today. Read my Dealernews blog. http://tinyurl.com/r5etbz

Scooter Business To Be Sold

A major international company plans to sell its scooter business to a U.S. entrepreneur, possibly within the next week. Watch this site and dealernewsblog.wordpress.com for details.

CPSC Issues Enforcement Stay

The CPSC said today that its two commissioners had voted May 1, 2009, to hold off enforcing the lead content provision of certain components in kid's ATV, dirt bikes and snowmobiles for two years. The provisions were part of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) passed last year. The ban on machines for youths 12 and younger became effective Feb. 10, 2009.This means that the CPSC won't enforce the ban on the sale of these machines and related parts, garments and accessories.

HOG Changes

Tim Conder, analyst with Wachovia, says Bergmann, McCaslin and Hutchinson sought HOG's top position filled by Keith Wandell. See report on dealernewsblog at http://twurl.nl/uym7d4.

Polaris Anual Meeting

Polaris has its annual shareholders meeting 4/30. It'll be 1st for new CEO Scott Wine, who discussed drop in 1Q earnings on 4/16. More news?

Polaris Deal Could Hurt Club Car

The deal between Polaris Industries and Bobcat Company announced in March could eliminate Club Car's agreement to supply private label machines to Bob Cat.

Bobcat Company is owned by Korean OEM Doosan, formerly known as Daewoo.

Under the "strategic alliance," Polaris and Bobcat are expected to jointly develop new work vehicles aimed at commercial market segments around the world. These vehicles would be targeted for introduction some time in the second half of 2010.