Windscreen specialist National Cycle (Maywood, Illinois) has received ECE R43 L-Class Certification for Quantum Hardcoated Polycarbonate with UV protective coating for use on powersports vehicles with windscreen wipers. Thermoformed or injection molded, Quantum Hardcoated Polycarbonate is said to be 56% lighter than glass and is widely acknowledged as the most impact-resistant material currently in use for motorcycle windscreens. The test involved wiper testing the material to over one million cycles!
BMW Motorrad’s worldwide sales were down by -0.8% (126,793 units) for the first 9 months of 2018; September sales were +0.2% (14,124 units).
The Harley-Davidson, Inc. Board of Directors has approved a cash dividend of $0.37 per share for the fourth quarter of 2018. The dividend is payable December 28, 2018 to the shareholders of record of the Company's common stock as of December 14, 2018. H-DI is the parent company of H-D Motor Company and H-D Financial Services.
Dutch energy storage and battery company Lithium Werks B.V. (www.lithiumwerks.com) and Chinese Zhejiang Jiashan Economic and Technological Development Zone Industry Corporation have signed a framework agreement with the intention to construct a 60 hectare (150 acre) battery Gigafactory in Chania’s Yangtze river Delta. Total investments required are estimated at € 1.6 bn (USD $1.8 bn). The facility will produce battery cells for lithium-ion batteries with production capacity of 500 GWh per annum, expected to have been commissioned by 2030.
Chicago based Genuine Scooters has joined the battle for a stake in the burgeoning middleweight space with the launch of its first motorcycle. The Genuine G400C “offers a solid price point, strong dealer margins, and a distinctive classic look with numerous accessorization options - perfect sizing to appeal to a large demographic of two-wheel enthusiasts, including first time motorcycle buyers.” MSRP will be $4,599 for a fuel injected 26hp 5-speed transmission with a claimed 80 mph top speed.
Yamaha is to exhibit five new models, including four new concepts (among them the Tritown Leaning Multi Wheeler/LMW) at CES 2019 at Las Vegas in January - the world’s largest consumer electronics show. The Niken LMW will also been seen, along with the company’s Public Personal Mobility (PPM) concept - a people service system based on low-speed autonomous driving.
Driven primarily by a decline in exports, US GDP growth slowed in the third quarter to an annualized rate of 3.5% (second quarter had been 4.2%) - that is still better than many had been expecting, driven primarily by consumer spending - with inflation moderating to 1.6% (compared to 2% earlier in the year).
Italian motorcycle and scooter brand Malaguti was re-launched at EICMA by the Austrian KSR Group, saying it will “offer a full range of dynamic and reliable motorcycles and scooters for a young, urban audience” starting with water-cooled Aprilia 125cc engines. Malaguti was founded in 1930 by Antonino Malaguti, with production finishing in 2011. KSR is making a habit of acquiring and relaunching moribund brands - most famously Lambretta.
Metisse Motorcycles owner Gerry Lisi is to build a new 1,850 sq m factory and museum at his present Oxfordshire headquarters in the UK. Industry icons Don and Derek Rickman broke ground on the new facility at a ceremony in November. The plan is for the licensed McQueen replicas to be handbuilt alongside the recently announced MK5 framed 1000cc parallel twin.
Italian motorcycle brand Moto Morini has been sold to the Zhongneng Vehicle Group. The Jannuzzelli family took over ownership in 2015 and moved Moto Morini from Bologna Trivolzio, south of Milan, to a 3,500 sq m facility where each Morini is assembled by hand, starting with its engine - each model is built on request. Zhongneng is based in South West China and produces some 500,000 small cc scooters annually and makes engines for other manufacturers and its own Zhen Motor brand. Founder and President Chen Huanneng says he has “great plans” for the brand and that “it will remain on Italian soil”.