BMW Motorrad achieved a strong start to the year with first quarter sales up +7.7% (38,606). In March, a total of 18,931 (+9.9%) motorcycles and maxi scooters were delivered to customers around the world.
Matt Chambers' Confederate Motorcycle replacement venture, an all-electric comeback for the legendary Curtiss brand, has gone public with target pricing. The company showed the 140 kw/190 hp/200 Nm torque Zeus Cafe and Zeus Bobber as pre-production prototypes at the Milan Show in November last year. Entry level pricing is slated to be around $60,000.00. Production is planned to start in 2020, and a $6,000.00 deposit is required to get on to the wait list.
Tucker Powersports has partnered with TEAM Arizona Motorcyclist Training Centers to become its newest 3rd Gear Level Sponsor. Tucker will provide specific TEAM Arizona training sites with riding gear and equipment, highlighting brands such as Arai Helmets, First Gear, Speed and Strength and Answer Racing.
Motorcycle registrations were +8.35% in Germany for March at 20,934 units; for Q1 the German market was +23.23% at 44,227 units. BMW is the inevitable market leader in its home market, selling 9,462 units in Germany in Q1 - up substantially (over 30%) on its 2018 Q1 performance and giving them a Q1 2019 market share of around 28.5 percent.
A study in Europe suggests that a substantial proportion of car commuters would switch to an E-bike, specifically to a Pedelec. Over 15,000 commuters were interviewed in 10 countries, with an average of 24% of commuters suggesting that they would be prepared to consider such a switch. Some 45% of Dutch commuters were positive about using a Pedelec, 39% in Spain, 21% in Germany, with British drivers least interested at 15%.
No stranger to the unique challenges of the Pike's Peak International Hill Climb, on June 30th, 2019 Aprilia will compete in the Heavyweight Motorcycle class with the widely acclaimed race-spec RSV4 derived Tuono V4 1100 naked bike, with Australian racer and Cycle News Road Test Editor Rennie Scaysbrook as the rider. Since making his debut in the 'Race To The Clouds' in 2016, Scaysbrook has achieved a podium position each year in the Heavyweight category and is one of only five riders in the history of the PPIC to go under the magic 10-minute barrier. First sanctioned in 1916, the track measures 12.42 miles (19.99 km) and has over 156 turns, climbing 4,720 ft (1,440 m) to the finish at 14,110 ft (4,300 m), on grades averaging 7.2%. As of August 2011, the highway is fully paved.
There are boardroom changes at Canadian headquartered BRP with Laurent Beaudoin to step down as Chairman of the Board, becoming Chairman Emeritus, and being replaced by José Boisjoli (in addition to his existing roles as President, CEO and Director), with Michael Hanley (an independent director since 2012) appointed Lead Director. Mr. Beaudoin has been Chairman for the past 16 years and "has played a critical role in the development of BRP's business since its creation in 1963."
