In further Polaris recall news, the company has had to agree to a $27.25 million settlement with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to settle two 2016 instances of late reporting; the company has also had to issue yet another recall, due to a fire hazard, affecting 107,000 2014 to current RZR XP 1000s.
Indian Motorcycle has started the year with a strong showing in market share terms in Germany – they were up to 14th for the first two months of 2018 with a 0.66 percent market share, albeit on low volumes so far in 2018; they have though more than doubled the number of bikes sold compared to the same period in 2017, from 24 to 53 units.
Royal Enfield parent company Eicher Motors has acted to close down its joint venture with U.S. partner Polaris – after initial success, sales of the Multix personal utility vehicle have disappointed. The equal venture, Eicher Polaris Pvt Ltd, was formed in 2012 and a loss of some $14.13 million was reported for the year ended March 31, 2017, with Eicher’s total investment in the project to date believed to be north of $40 million.
Dealer registration is now open for the 2018 American International Motorcycle Expo presented by Nationwide. Making its “West Coast” debut at Las Vegas this year (October 11-14), important recent show news has included the addition of Parts Unlimited/Drag Specialties and Tucker Rocky/Biker’s Choice to the exhibitor line-up.
Florida is the 43rd U.S. State to reclassify driving requirements for Slingshot three-wheeled Roadsters. The State’s “Autocycle” classification now allows residents to operate a Slingshot with a standard driver’s license, it now being regarded as a three-wheeled motorcycle rather than a car, and therefore exempt from needing to meet automotive safety standards.
Controversial billionaire activist investor Carl Icahan looks set to pocket $5.4bn from the sale of Federal Mogul to Monroe shock absorber owner Tenneco. Federal Mogul owns a number of businesses and brands that make powersports industry product of various kinds - most notable though are Italy based Ferodo brakes and Champion spark plugs and filters. This will not be Tenneco’s first involvement in the motorcycle industry in Italy, having bought (2008) then ultimately closed (2015) Marzocchi suspension.
Organized by Delicate Promotions, the FIM sanctioned AMA Land Speed Grand Championship returns to the Bonneville Speedway near Wendover, Utah, on Aug. 25-30. Also known as the Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials, the event features both American and international amateur land speed racing competitors vying for AMA and FIM records.
