H-D has a new EMEA VP, Kolja Rebstock, the former CEO and Managing Director of Mitsubishi Motors' German business, and a former Daimler AG executive. Very much a new-era Jochen Zeitz hire, Harley's CEO stated that "since we are concentrating on strengthening our prioritized markets, including EMEA and especially the DACH region [Germany, Austria, Switzerland], a strong network of profitable retailers is essential. Rebstock has considerable experience in working with dealer networks and in implementing a specific brand experience at the point of sale. He will lead the execution of our five-year strategic plan, The Hardwire, across EMEA during these challenging times. His vast experience will be of tremendous benefit."
Testament to the success that departed CEO Scott Wine had during his decade long tenure as CEO, Polaris Inc. has been named in Fortune magazine's list of the World's Most Admired Companies for the first time.
In keeping with its long-term commitment to 'Support the Sport' at all levels of the industry, Parts Unlimited announced the return of its Racer Rewards program. 2021 will see PU offer more than $250,000 worth of parts, accessories and apparel though its dealer network to support amateur riders nationwide.
The AHDRA All-American motorcycle drag racing series kicks off its second season under the stewardship of Bill Rowe on April 17-18 at Atlanta Dragway; followed by May 22-23 at Cecil County Dragway; June 4-6 at Rockingham Dragway; June 19-20 at National Trail Raceway; August 8-10 at Sturgis; September 17-18 at South Carolina Motorsports Park (eighth mile); October 1-3 at Summit Motorsports Park (Norwalk), and November 6-7 at Gainesville Raceway, with a regional event April 30-May 1 at Darlington Dragway.
Recent Harley patent filings show the company building on the radar-assisted safety features it filed in the past couple of years - such as radar-assisted cruise control. The ideas include radar-assisted automatic braking systems, with additional sensors that can measure the rider's awareness and body position to determine if rider alerts should precede braking actuation - features such as a rear-facing camera set into the instrument panel and focused on the rider's face could be used, or a helmet-mounted camera focused on the rider's eyes. If the computer decides the rider isn't paying enough attention for it to safely apply the brakes automatically, it's tied into audible, visual and haptic alert systems, potentially using vibration motors in the bars like those in games console controllers, along with warning lights and a buzzer, before going ahead with the emergency stop.
Another idea H-D appears to be working on is GPS-assisted cruise control for groups of riders - to get all the bikes to use a GPS-assisted cruise control that can make sure they're riding at precisely the same speed. Even by only making occasional GPS speed checks, the computer will know how far off its own wheel-speed sensors are from perfection and compensate, ending the constant juggling of cruise control settings as riders try to keep pace with the bike ahead.
Lurking among a recent slew of EPA-certified brand names that Harley has included in a filing was the name 'REVIVAL' - alongside the Electra Glide Standard, Road Glide and Street Glide. It has been seen there and elsewhere as a Trademarked brand name. The missing-in-action 1250 cc custom, perhaps?
Sources: AMD, IDN, FT, Reuters, PSB, MPN, BDN, MCN, AP, Bloomberg, MSNW, Electrek, electricmotorcycles.news, RideApart.com, Motor1.com, Cycle World, motorbikewriter.com