Category Archives: market trends

Polaris Ranger To Be Used In DARPA Robotics Challenge

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Polaris is providing a modified Ranger XP 900 EPS for the DARPA Robotics Challenge

Polaris is providing a modified Ranger XP 900 EPS for the DARPA Robotics Challenge

A Limited Edition DARPA Polaris Ranger XP 900 EPS will be used in part of the DARPA Robotics Challenge held??June 5-6, at the Fairplex, in Pomona, CA.

This DARPA Robotics Challenge was created to spur development of robotic technology that can help humans to better respond to future disasters. The Challenge Finals will have robots perform a number of tasks in a continuous course, simulating what might be encountered in a real disaster situation. DARPA will use the RANGER XP 900 EPS in one of the most difficult tasks to help demonstrate a robot???s ability to operate and to egress from a vehicle, since they are among the tools commonly on hand in disaster zones.

The Ranger XP 900 EPS was modified for use in the event including:

  • A remote SafeStop electronic throttle kill
  • Brake actuation technology
  • A 1,000 lb. capacity bed for the robot’s power supply
  • Bench seat and tilt steering to create more room for a robotic driver
  • Terrainarmor airless tires

For Polaris the event is an opportunity to further develop a vehicle platform with which robotic companies can integrate their own products. Polaris is also providing GEM vehicles for robot, people and supply transport at the event. Learn more: ??Polaris.com

Comment:?? The Challenge is a good opportunity for Polaris to work on product development for autonomous vehicles for both disaster relief and military applications as well as creating a vehicle platform for robotics companies. Building vehicles for speciality applications with specific features and options is also an effective way to produce higher margins in an increasingly competitive UTV market.

Google To Begin Testing Self-Driving LSVs

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Google Prototype self-driving low-speed vehicle.

Google Prototype self-driving low-speed vehicle.

Google is planning on testing??its own Google prototype self-driving vehicles on the roads of Mountain View, with safety drivers aboard. The vehicles will be low-speed vehicles (LSVs) produced by Roush Industries and will be on the road this summer. Roush provides services to move from concept to prototype to manufacturing and has experience in the automotive, motorsports and alternative fuel vehicle markets. The vehicles will have manual controls to conform with California autonomous vehicle code but Google has reported that it plans to make vehicles in the future without steering wheels or manual brakes. Learn more: ??Autoconnectedcar.com

Comment:?? Perhaps the next place to test the vehicles will be in gated communities where there is a defined and limited road network and all the traffic is low-speed.

GPS Industries Reports Strong Start For Telematics In 2015

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One of the Visage system's screen views. GPS Industries has partnered with Club Car to provide the Visage system for fleet management and content delivery.

One of the Visage system’s screen views. GPS Industries has partnered with Club Car to provide the Visage system for fleet management and content delivery.

GPS Industries reports that they have signed more than 100 installation contracts to date to provide telematics and fleet tracking technology. Properties now using the technology include??The Phoenician (AZ), Turnberry Isle Resort (FL), Omni Interlocken (CO) and Journey at Pechanga (CA).

GPSI has an exclusive partnership with Club Car whose Connected Precedent i3 golf car showcases the??Visage Mobile Golf Information System and recently-launched Visage Media Network. The mixture of technology and software allows properties from golf courses to master-planned communities to track, control and deliver promotional content.

According to GPSI, “The Visage system offers hole-by-hole graphics and flyovers, scoring and gaming, on-course food and beverage ordering, and addressable promotional messages on high-resolution 10-inch touch screens mounted to Club Car Precedent golf cars. Featuring in excess of 75 million-plus page views monthly, the Visage Media Network represents the largest connected global audience of golfers.” The company is also working on new applications to leverage the platform for social media and user generated content.

The appeal for golf courses and the like is that they can reduce costs through better fleet management, increase revenues from food service and promotions and provide a better experience for their customers. Learn more: ??GIuser.com

Value Priced UTVs & Cargo Capacity In The Work Segment

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A new UTV from Cub Cadet's new Challenger series.

UTVs from Cub Cadet’s new Challenger series are part of a cost/benefit analysis.

My colleague Stephen Metzger has performed a cost/benefit analysis of the light duty utility vehicle segment with a focus on price versus cargo box capacity for vehicles priced between $5,200 and $10,000. He used the mid-point in the price range to examine two sets of vehicles from a range of manufacturers. Comparing the two price ranges, vehicles in the lower price range had a slightly higher variation in price but a lower variation in cargo box capacity. The higher priced vehicles showed a significant variation in cargo box capacity. In conclusion he states:

In comparing the two sets of vehicles, it appears to be more difficult to place a superior cost/benefit value in the lower price range. The variation in the cost/benefit ratio is relatively small. Yet the opportunity lies in raising the cargo box capacity, while maintaining price. Then lower price range vehicles begin to encroach on capacity featured in the higher priced models.

To see the full analysis view the article.

Startups Aggregating Mini-trucks In India’s Local Delivery Market

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Some of the mini-trucks and owner-operators part of the LOTrucks.com network.

Some of the mini-trucks and owner-operators part of the LOTrucks.com network.

LOTrucks.com, an Indian startup, is using technology to aggregate the highly fragmented local delivery market in the country. Major cities such as Bangalore employ a hub and spoke delivery system where the last mile is handled by mini-trucks and other vehicles driven by owner-operators. The problem has been connecting the large number of owner-operators with potential clients in an efficient and cost-effective manner. LOTrucks joins similar companies such as??The Porter, Blowhorn and Shippr who are operating in Mumbai and Bangalore. LOT stands for Logistics, Optimization and Transportation.

According to the founders “When we noticed some important issues like large idle time of vehicles, no standard pricing, customer-driver communication gap and billing problems, we thought this can be addressed using technology.” LOT has reduced the time from order booking to processing to 30 minutes, implemented a standard mileage based pricing system to eliminate negotiating and trains drivers for communicating in the diverse city. An online payment system using a mobile is in the works. LOT currently has over 500 trucks including the??LOT MINI, aTata Ace with 800kg capacity, and the LOT MAX , a Tata 407 with 2.5ton capacity. The founders plan to perfect their system in Bangalore before expanding to other cities. ??Learn more: Yourstory.com

Golf Cars Finding Success In Thailand

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Local media reports that Global Electric Motorcars Asia and others are finding success in Thailand selling electric golf cars (not to be confused with Polaris’ GEM brand). Key market segments are resorts and hotels in the South and universities in the Northeast. The company has three showroom locations with service centers in the country, one in Bangkok and two more in the South with plans to open a third. Used primarily for people transport and golf, the majority of the vehicles in the market are imported. Cost-conscious shoppers tend towards Chinese imports that are exempt from the stiff 40-50% import tax other manufacturers pay. The company is also trying to get NEVs licensed for use on public roads to expand the market. Learn more: ??Phuketgazette.net

Columbia ParCar Purchases Tomberlin

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The Tomberlin Anvil is one of the more consumer-oriented vehicles Columbia ParCar will be adding to their offerings.

The Anvil is one of the more consumer-oriented vehicles Columbia ParCar will be adding to their portfolio under the Tomberlin brand.

Columbia ParCar Custom Carts, Inc., a Nordic Group company, announced that they are in the process of acquiring the assets of Tomberlin Automotive Group. In a statement to dealers, Scott Breckley , President of Columbia ParCar stated

The combined product portfolios across multiple commercial and consumer based platforms will create the worlds leading privately held EV company and a very compelling message for our Dealers, Distributors and Consumers. The result will blend product innovation with superb branding into our heritage of customer care that dates back to 1946. A winning combination in any strategic initiative??.

The deal is expected to take another 45 days to close. The Tomberlin brand will continue to stand alone along side the ParCar brand. The merger will be kicked off with a series of regional launch parties starting in the Villages in Florida.??Learn more: ??Parcar.com

Comment:?? This is a good match of complementary strengths. Tomberlin will add a lineup of vehicles primarily focused on the consumer personal transportation and recreation market but applicable to some commercial applications as well. Tomberlin’s product line includes LSVs and an off-road electric utility vehicle. The deal will allow Columbia ParCar to expand the breadth of their offerings as well as their dealer network. Tomberlin also adds some expertise in sourcing and manufacturing in China and a track record of innovation. When Tomberlin first came to the market they were one of the first companies to design an LSV that looked much more like a car than a golf car or a GEM. With some additional resources available, it will be interesting to see what new products will be launched. The deal also points to the continued effort by companies in all segments of the STOV market to expand their distribution and reach new customers.

NEVs: The Future of Transportation?

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An essay in the May issue of Harvard Business Review makes the argument that vehicles like the NEV will be the future of transportation. The premise is that in the future car ownership will decline significantly as ride-sharing services become a more dominant mode of transportation. Given that most driving trips are local, NEVs are positioned well for this changing market, particularly in urban areas. Industry analysts view car-sharing services and autonomous vehicles as the future. An analyst from Morgan Stanley used the following graphic to illustrate the expected shift in car ownership and use.

What one analyst sees as the future for cars.

What one analyst sees as the future for cars.

There are some statistics that indicate the transformation is already under way. “… the average person uses his car for only one hour a day, according to a still-widely cited 1995 statistic from the U.S. Department of Transportation. And driving by U.S. household fell nearly 10 percent between 2004 and 2014, marking the first major shift in car ownership since World War II.”?? However, it may be a while before a wholesale shift happens, if it ever ??does. Learn more: ??Huffingtonpost.com

Comment:?? While NEVs are popular in certain areas, like vacation communities and gated communities, they have not quite gained traction as predicted. In fact, SVR’s research shows that their use has largely switched from predominately personal transportation to commercial use, such as on college campuses and resorts. One reason is that more municipalities are allowing golf cars or modified golf cars to be used on public roads. The price differential between these and NEVs make the NEV the less frequent choice in these areas. Where ordinances are more restrictive, NEVs have proven to be a popular choice. The key to expanding the market is allowing the vehicles to travel at a higher speed than the currently regulated 25 mph. A NEV with a top speed in the range of 35 mph to 45 mph, often referred to as a medium speed vehicle (MSV), would open up the market considerably but this would require significant and costly changes in NEV safety equipment and/or design. NHTSA has been adamant about not creating an MSV classification as currently envisioned, and they are not enthusiastic about the mixing of NEVs with highway capable vehicles on public roadways. But in the future autonomous technology and advances in safety technology could improve safety and lower the costs of safety equipment enough to make MSVs viable.

Mahindra USA Partners with Intimidator to Offer UTV

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The Mahindra mPact XTV 1000 L utility vehicle is one of six models developed by the company in partnership with Intimidator, Inc.

The Mahindra mPact XTV 1000 L utility vehicle is one of six models developed by the company in partnership with Intimidator, Inc.

From Mahindra USA:

Mahindra USA announced Monday it is teaming up with Intimidator Inc. to manufacturer an all-new line of utility vehicles, the Mahindra mPACT??? XTV. The mPACT??? XTV rollout will begin with six models available through Mahindra???s dealer network beginning in early 2015. Mahindra dealers were given a sneak preview of the new utility vehicles at Mahindra???s Regional Dealer Meetings in October.

???Our partnership with Intimidator brings together two companies with shared vision, an innovative approach to product design and a passionate commitment to quality. Mahindra is dedicated to investing in the future through new product development to provide our dealers and customers with products that continue our tradition of delivering the unmatched value they have come to expect from Mahindra,??? said Mani Iyer, President, Mahindra USA.

The Mahindra mPACT??? XTV are all designed to provide superior performance and deliver impressive work and transport capabilities. This XTV lineup offers category-leading cargo box and towing capacity. Each model offers spacious, comfortable seating for driver and passengers and is loaded with standard features such as true 4WD, 12-inch ground clearance, power cargo box lift, front and rear receiver hitches – all backed by an industry-leading three-year powertrain and one- year bumper-to-bumper warranty.

The gas and diesel versions will be available in three styles in early 2015:

??? Standard: three-passenger with cargo

??? Crew: six-passenger with cargo

??? Longbed: three-passenger with extra cargo that folds to a flatbed

???We are looking forward to a long-term and productive relationship with Mahindra to bring the mPACT??? XTV???s, that are built with pride from the ground up in Batesville, AR, to its strong and growing North American dealer distribution network. We will boost UTV production significantly in the coming years as we expand the rollout to all markets to meet demand,??? said Robert Foster, Owner, Intimidator, Inc.

Intimidator has immediate plans to add 7,600 sq. ft. to its 122,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Batesville, AR, and is working closely with the Independence County Economic Development Board on plans for a major facility expansion in the area???s new industrial park within three years. In addition, the expected demand for the Mahindra mPACT??? XTV???s will add 150 new jobs at the Intimidator manufacturing facility, which currently employs more than 50 people, as production is ramped up to meet this demand.

???The Mahindra mPACT??? XTV stole the show at our North American Regional Dealer meetings in October as our dealers responded with overwhelming support for this new product line. Pre-orders at the Regional Dealer Meetings exceeded our expectations and we are looking forward to getting these top-of-the-line utility vehicles in the hands of our customers in 2015,??? said Cleo Franklin, Mahindra USA???s Vice President of Marketing and Strategic Planning. ???The utility vehicle segment is a natural extension to our growing line of tractors and will add fuel to Mahindra???s rapid growth in North America.???

The new Mahindra XTV???s will begin to roll out in early 2015 to select markets and expand through the United States and Canada through the remainder of the year. For more details and weekly updates on the Mahindra mPACT??? XTV series, visit mahindraxtv.com.

Intimidator, Inc. is owned by Robert and Becky Foster, former co-owners of Bad Boy Mowers. Intimidator offers world-class American-made, side-by-side 4×4 Utility Vehicles with unparalleled strength, power and performance at an affordable price. The company???s expanding line of products includes the Intimidator Classic, Intimidator Crew Cab, and Intimidator Truck series utility vehicles built to suit a variety of needs???from hauling feed to hunting and more. Three engines choices are currently offered: 1,000cc Diesel, 750cc Gasoline, and a 48volt Electric.

Headquartered in Batesville, Arkansas, the family owned company has more than 50 employees. Intimidator products are sold through a growing network of more than 65 dealers in the United States. Intimidator and its sister companies, Bad Dawg Accessories and Ground Hog Maxx, provide the best aftermarket selection of accessory items the side-by-side market has to offer. Bad Dawg products are distributed through Bass Pro Shops, Cabela???s, and Tractor Supply stores nationwide. For UTV accessory information, visit Bad Dawg Accessories.com or call (877) 522-3364. For more information on Intimidator, visit IntimidatorUTV.com or call (877) 522-3364.

Learn more: ??Mahindrausa.com

Comment:?? The Mahindra and Intimidator partnership is another sign of the robustness and competitiveness of the UTV market. While some companies have exited the market, new companies continue to enter the market. Farm equipment and other manufacturers such as Mahindra are partnering with UTV manufacturers to enter the market. These partnerships allow them to participate in a growing and complementary market without devoting as many resources as they would if they developed the vehicles themselves. In addition, they gain access to the expertise of manufacturers that focus on UTVs as compared to farm equipment in Mahindra’s case.

Eicher-Polaris Joint Venture To Launch Flexituff Utility Vehicle For The Indian Market

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Eicher-Polaris-Flexituff-side-spied-900x549

The new Flexituff utility vehicle from an Eicher and Polaris collaboration was spied on the road recently while undergoing tests. Photo Credit: ??www.indianautoblog.com

A collaboration between Eicher and Polaris is set to release their first vehicle, something akin to a mini-truck, later this year for the Indian market. The Flexituff UV will be available in two configurations, a multi-passenger van (MPV) and a twin-cab pickup for hauling cargo. The vehicle will feature a Greaves Cotton 600cc diesel engine with claimed mileage of 25km/L. Based on pictures of the vehicle in testing, the vehicle will be slightly larger than competitive offerings, the Mahindra Maxximo and Tata Magic. Initial production is expected to be 10-12,000 vehicles per year with expectations that it will reach 100,000 units in the future. Learn more: ??Motoroids.com

Update: ??Some more information on the vehicle. It uses composite body panels to save weight and “…features a bare dashboard with a four-spoke steering wheel, a simple instrument cluster and a centre console-mounted gear level.” The double cab pickup with cargo area can fit five occupants. The price of the vehicle is expected to be about 1 lakh or about $1,500-1,600 US. The vehicle development project is reported to have cost $40 million US. Learn more: ??Inidancarsbikes.in

Comment:?? This type of vehicle is not as prevalent in the US but in India and parts of Asia the vehicles are common. Smaller sized delivery vehicles are an important part of a hub and spoke delivery system where they are used to deliver goods the last kilometer or so through small and crowded streets. Price points and cost of operation are important purchasing factors for owner/operators of these local shipping businesses.