Triumph Motorcycles has announced a new collaboration with UK industry experts such as Williams F1 Advanced Engineering and Integral Powertrain Ltd's e-Drive Division, and Innovate UK, to develop specialist electric motorcycle technology, which will provide significant input into potential future electric motorcycle offers from Triumph. This two-year project (TRIUMPH TE-1) also includes partnership work with Warwick University's world famous WMG (Warwick Manufacturing Group).
BMW Group has officially opened its new automotive plant in San Luis Potosi in Mexico. BMW has already been making cars in the USA for 25 years at Greer, South Carolina - the speculation has been that this is where they may start manufacturing motorcycles for the North American market if they finally do decide to go down that route. The company has invested more than one billion US dollars in the new production location, with a capacity there of up to 175,000 units per year.PSB reports that 2018 saw annual SxS retail sales in the US higher than motorcycles for the first time. Cited MIC data puts US SxS sales at 458,000 new units in 2018, against 457,000 new motorcycles.
KTM "radically race-refined" its EXC range with a "new generation" of MY20 2 and 4-stroke Enduro machines, including its premium KTM Six Days line-up and a special edition KTM 300 EXC TPI Erzbergrodeo. Developed on the "toughest climbs, gnarliest terrain and in deepest mud", the MY20 line-up includes a new model - the Euro 4 homologated KTM 150 EXC TPI. Features throughout the range include "new and more efficient engines, a redeveloped chassis with improved WP XPLOR suspension, improved handling and new bodywork, air filter box, cooling system and exhausts. Accessories include Neken handlebars and clamps (France), Brembo brakes, No-Dirt footpegs and CNC-milled hubs with Giant rims as standard.
Boston based IDTechEx Research is forecasting that Electric Vehicles will be a $2.6 trillion market, with several new sectors prominent by 2030. Said to be based on analysis of some 100 different sectors, IDTechEx says it has studied and forecasted EVs for over 20 years. Although the primary focus to date has been on personal mobility, IDTechEx points to the growing importance of EV in sectors such as construction, agriculture and mining (CAM), logistics and road freight, final mile delivery, Micro EVs and commuting, shuttle and school buses, trains, military, aircraft and marine.
Data from CDK Global Recreation (Lightspeed) shows that Same Store Sales dollars at more than 1,600 U.S. dealerships were "flattish" in June 2019 compared to the year-ago period. The composite data comes from dealerships that use the Lightspeed DMS. New and pre-owned major unit sales dollars increased +0.2%. The South was the biggest winner with +3.5 % growth. Add in parts and service dollars for the month at the average Lightspeed dealership, and the USA overall dollars were down -0.5%. Parts sales dollars were down -5% for the month.
Brembo has concluded a € 100m investment in a new 67 production line, 40,000 sq m aluminum brake caliper production hub in Nanjing, near Shanghai, China. The facility will supply parts to European, Asian and American customers operating in China. The hub integrates a foundry with production lines in a facility that stands next to the plant that was inaugurated in 2012 for the production of brake discs. The combined facilities offer a production capacity of more than two million pieces per year.
Ducati has opened a second flagship store in Rome - a 460 sqm homage to all things "Red" with a showroom, workshop and 'Land of Joy' Ducati Scrambler themed enclave. The flagship stores are mostly directly managed by Ducati. Ducati Roma Gregory VII is adjacent to the Vatican City. Ducati has 780 dealers in 90 countries worldwide, with new openings in recent weeks as far afield as China, India, Brazil, Austria and USA.