SEMA has announced sales of Automotive Specialty-Equipment Sales increasing to $50.9bn in 2021 (from $47.9bn in 2020). The finding comes from the new "2022 SEMA Market Report," which is available for download at www.sema.org/research. Pickups remain the single biggest segment in the specialty-equipment parts market. An estimated 13.6m pickups were modified by consumers in 2021, accounting for a combined 31% of specialty-equipment parts sales.
PSB has reported that Mark Magarian, along with the existing Wild West H-D GM Michael Keeton, have acquired the assets of Wild West H-D of Lubbock, Texas as the former dealership owner retires after 17 years. With roots going back to the 1950s, selling owner Larry Hay acquired the dealership in 2005 and implemented an aggressive expansion, doubling the size of the facility to over 32,000 sq ft. He also constructed a massive 1.25 acre, all-concrete Rider Academy lot.
AMA has announced GEICO as the Official Insurance Partner of the 30th annual, 2022 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days. The 2022 AMA VMD presented by Royal Enfield takes place July 22-24 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, with Biltwell as the sponsor of what is billed the largest motorcycle parts Swap Meet in the USA. This year will see AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer and 500 cc World Champ Kevin Schwantz serve as Grand Marshal.
Rider comms specialist Cardo has added Motovan as a distributor for the Canadian powersports market.
Performance Brokerage Services has announced the sale of Open Road H-D in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin as dealership ownership churn continues apace. Finance industry careerists Lori Thiel and Pete Johnson acquired the store in 2007 and have now sold to long time industry professionals and friends and home towners Matt Chiappetta and Bruce Miner - bringing their total dealership count between them to four.
It has been reported that a new type of battery technology could reduce the charge times of electric vehicles from hours to minutes. Calculations made by scientists at the Institute for Basic Science in South Korea revealed that so-called quantum batteries would reduce typical home charging times of electric cars from 10 hours to just three minutes.
Texas based Volcon ePowersports has added distribution of Spanish manufacturer Torrot's line of electric off-road motorcycle products throughout Latin America, South America, and the Caribbean Region ('LATAM'). Torrot Electric Europa SA has a storied and impressive place in the Spanish and wider European motorcycle industry. Founded in 1948 by Don Luis Iriondo, Torrot got its start manufacturing sturdy touring and road bicycles. In the 1950s, Don Luis reached a license manufacturing agreement to make mopeds and motorcycles for the famous French brand Dijon-Terrot, creating Terrot S.A.E. In the 1970s, Torrot made good, popular motorcycles like the Mustang and the TT, powered by Sachs engines. Most recently it was Torrot's then Private Equity owners that sold the GasGas brand it had rescued from oblivion to the KTM Group. Since 2017, Torrot focused 100% of its model range on electric, catering exclusively on young riders ages 3 to 11. Models are produced in the company's factory located in Salt, Spain where it also manufactures the Rieju high-end MX range.
Porsche, Siemens Energy and a line-up of international companies are starting a pilot project in Chile to build the world's first integrated, commercial, industrial-scale plant for making synthetic climate-neutral fuels (e-fuels). Around 130,000 l of e-fuels will be produced as early as this year. Capacity is then to be increased to about 55m l a year by 2024, and to 550m l by 2026. The project will use wind energy in southern Chile. The fuel will allow vehicles with combustion engines, including motorcycles, to be operated almost climate-neutrally. Porsche has also increased its stake in e-fuels group HIF Global, which is planning a potential A$1bn production facility in Australia that will be modelled on southern Chile.
Rancho Cucamonga, California based Falken Tires is back for the 2022 AFT season as the Official Light Truck Tire for a third consecutive season. Described as a "long-time standout in the world of motorsport," Falken boasts many impressive performances to its name, across numerous disciplines - including the Lucas Off Road Racing Series, Ultra 4, USCA and SCCA, the 4 Hours of Nürburgring, and the Formula Drift Championship Series, where it earned Tire Manufacturer of the Year honors in 2017.
Sources: AMD, IDN, FT, Reuters, PSB, MPN, BDN, MCN, AP, Bloomberg, MSNW, Electrek, electricmotorcycles.news, RideApart.com, Motor1.com, Cycle World, motorbikewriter.com
