Polaris has announced a 165,000 sq ft expansion to take its Wilmington, Ohio PG&A Distribution Center up to 465,000 sq ft; completion is slated for Spring 2023. Polaris reported a +13% growth in its global PG&A business in Q4 2021 with "growth in all categories and business segments." Total 2021 PG&A sales exceeded $1.5bn.
Founded in 1959, Elkhart, Indiana based Patrick Industries has completed its acquisition of Arizona based Rockford Corp. and its Rockford Fosgate audio products brand. A marine, recreational vehicle, domestic and industrial building commercial builder products manufacturer, Patrick says its stated aim is to acquire expansion opportunities and strategically grow its "presence in powersports and leisure lifestyle enthusiast aftermarkets."
Can-Am, Ski-Doo, Sea-Doo, Lynx and Rotax owner BRP has added to its Valcourt, Quebec headquarters R&D facilities with a new design studio at Sophia Antipolis in the South of France. Slated to officially open its doors in December 2022, BRP says it will "mark another important step towards developing and leveraging its design expertise worldwide." The focus will include sustainable mobility and leverage its geographical proximity to the "understanding of market dynamics" in Europe.
After a record-setting race career, Andrew Hines has taken a new role in a restructured Vance & Hines, Mission Foods, Suzuki NHRA PSM Team. With Angelle Sampey and Eddie Krawiec set to ride the 4-valve Suzuki Hayabusas, the V&H effort will be headed up by no less than three former NHRA champions - Hines will step up to the role of full-time Crew Chief for the team.
SEMA has introduced a new program to make it possible for automotive aftermarket parts manufacturers to meet the legal requirement for emissions compliance under the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Tampering Policy. The program, called SEMA Certified-Emissions (SC-E), gives manufacturers the ability to verify that a product meets the EPA's "reasonable basis" criteria and is therefore legal for sale in 49 states. www.sema.org
RumbleOn and NADA/J.D. Power have announced a new marketing and referral agreement enabling customers to receive instant cash offers on powersports online at NADAGuides.com.
Polaris has struck a deal with Qmerit, "a leader in green energy transformation with the largest nationwide network of certified electrical installers for EV charging, to provide a simple and convenient home charging installation service solution for Polaris's customers in USA," says Steve Menneto, President of Off-Road. "With the launch of our new RANGER XP Kinetic, customers want a turnkey solution for fast, accessible charging. Qmerit will be the go-to resource for Polaris, and our dealers, to support these customers' needs."
SEMA has applauded public-private efforts to save the Bonneville Salt Flats, with the installation of a new water well and weather and hydrologic equipment used for measuring salt growth conditions as part of the broader Restore Bonneville program. Federal and state funds were released last year to instal the monitoring equipment and help increase the volume of salt pumped onto the Bonneville Salt Flats this year to a total of up to 500,000 tons. The collaborative restoration effort has seen SEMA and the racing community join forces with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Utah Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Utah Geological Survey (UGS) and Intrepid Potash Inc. Originally in the 1960s, the racing venue was over 13 miles in length, but the course is now eight miles or less. According to a study by the BLM, the Salt Flats have also shrunk in size from 96,000 acres to about 30,000 acres.
Texas based Volcon ePowersports ("the first all-electric off-road powersports company") has already signed its 60th dealership in North America, having received 365 applications in just 160 days.
As part of the completion of its previously announced acquisition of Freedom Powersports, which represents 15 OEMs through 13 retail locations operated in Texas, Georgia and Alabama, RumbleOn has named Freedom founder and former CEO Kevin Lackey as the President of Retail for all Freedom locations, reporting to CEO Marshall Chesrown, with Daniel Arriaga reporting to Lackey as regional director of all Freedom retail locations. The Freedom acquisition completed on February 22nd.
Bloomington, Mn., based SxS/UTV manufacturer Toro Company has acquired Robert and Becky Foster's Batesville, Arkansas based Intimidator Group - of Spartan mowers fame.
Sources: AMD, IDN, FT, Reuters, PSB, MPN, BDN, MCN, AP, Bloomberg, MSNW, Electrek, electricmotorcycles.news, RideApart.com, Motor1.com, Cycle World, motorbikewriter.com