Described as a "pioneering digital retail platform for powersports," Transax will sponsor the Dealer Tech Zone at this year's AIMExpo in Las Vegas, February 6-8. The company will also sponsor a Digital Engagement Dealer Workshop on Thursday, February 8, in addition to exhibiting on the show floor.
BRP is celebrating 20 years as a standalone Bombardier spin-off (December 18, 2003). In those 20 years, the company has tripled its global market share "becoming the world’s leading powersports original equipment manufacturer (OEM)" and grown from 7,500 to 23,000 employees in 26 countries. Revenues have more than quadrupled to over CAD 10bn. BRP is still led by founding CEO José Boisjoli - a near 30-year veteran of the business in total - and sells through nearly 3,000 dealers worldwide in130 countries with a manufacturing footprint that has grown from 7 to 14 sites worldwide; www.brp.com
The AMA congratulates the Men's and Women's 2023 U.S. ISDE World Trophy teams after a pair of first place finishes sealed a dominant week in November at San Juan, Argentina. The U.S. Junior World Trophy Team added a second-place finish. The U.S. also saw success from its club teams, with the U.S. Club Team XC Gear finishing first among club teams, with the U.S. Team GTBN in second.
Polaris has been awarded a prestigious 2023 Popular Science Best of What's New Award in the automotive category for its all-electric Polaris RANGER XP Kinetic. "The combustion engine Polaris RANGER has been the No. 1 selling utility side-by-side brand for more than 15 years and with the all-new, fully electric RANGER Kinetic XP getting into the market this year, our utility customers are seeing firsthand the performance and power that electric powertrains can provide," said Josh Hermes, Vice President of Electric Off Road, Polaris.
December saw the National Powersports Dealer Association (NPDA) announce that the Federal Trade Commission had released the final version of its Auto Rule (renamed the Combating Auto Retail Scams Rule - CARS). Designed to protect consumers from auto retail scams, the rule would have required powersports dealers to fundamentally alter the way they do business. However, the final language of the CARS Rule explicitly exempts powersports dealers and other non-automotive dealers from the requirements of the rule. Bob Althoff, NPDFA Chairman, said: "The NPDA appreciates the collaboration shown by our various partners to help overcome this regulation. We are also thankful that the FTC listened to the input and allowed for these exemptions."
December saw the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in USA release its annual Traffic Safety Facts report for 2021. A compilation of motor vehicle traffic crash data, the 225-page report contains information on crash types, causes and participants involved. According to the report, motorcyclists made up 13.8% of all nationwide traffic fatalities in 2021, with 5,932 motorcyclists killed on U.S. roads. That is the highest number since data collection began in 1975. In comparison, the pre-Covid year of 2019 saw 5,044 bikers killed. The number of those injured on motorcycles reported in 2021 was 82,686, which is fewer than the all-time high of 104,442 in 2016. This total injury count represents 3.3% of the 2.5 million people injured in all motor vehicle crashes. It is important to note that 2021 showed a substantial increase in motorcycles registered. The data also shows an increase in vehicle miles traveled by bikers. NHTSA data shows 9.8 million registered motorcycles with approximately 19.6 billion miles traveled in 2021. Those increases mean that while the total number of fatalities and injuries went up, the rate per 100,000 registered motorcycles went down. Riders accounted for 95% of deaths, while 5% were motorcycle passengers; 57% of fatalities occurred by collision with another vehicle, 26% resulted from a collision with a fixed object, 4% collision with a non-fixed object, while 13% of fatalities occurred without a collision; 34% of fatalities involved a rider impaired by alcohol. That number is in line with the 31% of alcohol-related fatalities nationwide. Riders were wearing helmets in 59% of fatalities, while riders were not wearing helmets in 38% of fatalities. Another 3% of fatalities occurred where helmet usage was unknown; 29% of fatalities involved an unlicensed rider.
Sources: AMD, IDN, FT, Reuters, PSB, MPN, BDN, MCN, AP, Bloomberg, MSNW, Electrek, electricmotorcycles.news, RideApart.com, Motor1.com, Cycle World, motorbikewriter.com