The new JLG 615G UTV developed by JLG and Textron for the rental market.

The three person JLG 315G UTV for the construction and event site rental markets.

JLG, a leading manufacturer of telehandlers, booms and aerial work platforms is entering the utility vehicle market, or at least a very specific slice of it. The 3-passenger JLG 315G and six-passenger JLG 615G UTVs were developed for the rental market. The company knows this space well from products like aerial work platforms, which is predominantly a rental market. The UTVs were developed in partnership with Textron Specialized Vehicles and based on an Arctic Cat vehicle platform. (In 2003 JLG had acquired a telehandler business from Textron.)

JLG reasons that they can better serve the rental market since they already have relationships with rental companies, and, therefore, can simplify inventory management and more easily provide parts and service. In addition, the UTVs were designed for the construction and event sites that rental companies serve. Durability, reliability and safety are important equipment requirements for these end-use applications where renters rather than owners can abuse them. Some of the key features designed with this in mind include:

• Front bumper
• Boot guards
• Steel braided cables
• Skid plates
• Dupont surlyn hood
• Beefed up braking system and axles engineered by JLG parent company Oshkosh
• 1,000 lbs dump bed that can accommodate a full skid
• 25 gal. under-hood storage
• Contoured seats with extra shoulder room and individual headrests
• Generous room for exit/egress

Other specs include:

• 45 hp, 695cc four-valve, single cylinder gas engine with fuel injection
• Engine braking system
• Electric shift-on-the-fly 2/4WD with 4WD Lock
• Duramatic CVT transmission
• 4-wheel hydraulic disc brakes
• 26” tires
• 10” of suspension travel
• 10” of ground clearance
• 1,500 lbs. towing capacity

In the future diesel versions are expected to be available.

Learn more:  Compactequip.com  and JLG.com

SVR’s Take: This seems like a smart way for JLG to enter the UTV market, though I think this product introduction is primarily about the company exploiting their existing distribution channel and relationships than a strong interest in entering the UTV market as a whole. This is a simple add-on to their existing product offerings and Textron is doing the heavy lifting on the product development and manufacturing end. For Textron this is another way to target the commercial segment. They already have partnerships with Caterpillar and Toro via Arctic Cat for this segment. These UTVs is another way to utilize partnerships to expand their distribution channels for commercial markets without having to develop a specific network of commercial dealers. A quick check of the leading rental companies indicate that John Deere, Kubota, Bobcat and Club Car vehicles are currently available in the rental space. Polaris has a partnership with Bobcat to develop utility vehicles. Bobcat already provides a range of equipment to the rental market.

Marc Cesare, Smallvehicleresource.com