Tomberlin Aggressively Markets Vanish Electric UTV

Posted on February 25, 2011 by Marc Cesare

In the first of a series of marketing videos Tomberlin leaves no mystery, putting a name to their competition, the Bad Boy Buggies XTO. Titling the video the “Tomberlin Shootout” (complete with spaghetti western intro music) Tomberlin conducts a range test, demonstrating the good performance of the Vanish and the bad and some might even say ugly performance of the Bad Boy Buggie XTO. In the video the Vanish ends ups towing the Bad Boy Buggie and claims to consistently produce three times as much range as the Bad Boy Buggie XTO in Tomberin’s range test. Learn more: YouTube.com

Bad Boy Buggies Becomes NASCAR Sponsor

Posted on February 15, 2011 by Marc Cesare

In 2011 Bad Boy Buggies will sponsor both NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series teams at Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI). Elliott Sadler and Clint Bowyer will drive Bad Boy Buggies branded vehicles in five races. Bad Boy Buggies was recently acquired by Textron and the sponsorship is a sign that management is moving quickly to take advantage of the resources and connections of their new parent. Previously, Textron’s E-Z-Go subsidiary has sponsored KHI vehicles in the same NASCAR race series. Learn more: Speedwaymedia.com

JCB Launches New Workmax UTV

Posted on February 10, 2011 by Marc Cesare

JCB Workmax 800 D

UK based JCB has added a new 4×4 utility vehicle to their Workmax product line, the Workmax 800 D. Targeting the UK and European markets, the 800 D features a 600 kg payload and a 784cc Yanmar diesel engine. The 4×4 drive plus locking differential is electronic. Management believes that the utility vehicle market in Europe is still developing and offers plenty of opportunity for growth. Accordingly, this year JCB has put more emphasis on UTVs rather than ATVs as the former is becoming the preferred work vehicle in many applications. They have also expanded their dealer network beyond their traditional construction equipment dealers to include specialist ATV and agricultural equipment dealers. Learn more: MHWMaagazine.co.uk

KYMCO To Launch 700cc UTV In The US

Posted on February 2, 2011 by Marc Cesare

Kwang Yang Motor Co., Ltd. (KYMCO), the largest powered two-wheeler manufacturer in Taiwan recently announced major 2011 marketing initiatives including the introduction of a 700cc UTV in the US market. The company which took over the remaining share of KYMCO US in 2010 expects to sell 1,000 UTVs in the US this year. Management expects UTVs to eventually replace ATVs in the market. Total revenue for the company is about $1 billion a year. Learn more: News.cens.com

John Deere Gator Named Official UTV of Best in the Desert Racing Association

Posted on January 23, 2011 by Marc Cesare

John Deere Gator XUV 825i crossover UTV

The John Deere Gator™ has been named the “Official UTV” of the Best in the Desert Racing Association for the 2011-2012 Best in the Desert Racing Series. The sponsorship will be used to highlight Deere’s Gator XUV crossover utility vehicles. As the term crossover implies, these latest additions to the Gator product lineup were introduced to appeal to customers that straddle the work and recreation segments. In the past few years the Gator has lost market share as the recreation and combination work/recreation segments of the market have expanded quickly. Learn more: SXSNews.com

Company News

Posted on January 19, 2011 by Marc Cesare

Curtis Wins Award For Cab System – Curtis Industries was recently chosen by Car & Driver Magazine to receive the SEMA Global Media Award for the PathPro SS cab system for the Polaris Ranger UTV. The year round enclosure can easily mount to the factory installed Roll-Over Protection System. Learn more: blog.curtisindustries.net

Case IH Announces UTV Rebate – Effective as of January 1st of this year, Case IH added their Scout utility vehicles to the rebate program program for Iowa Farm Bureau members. Purchasers of new utility vehicles will be eligible for a $300 rebate. Learn more: Iowafarmbureau.com

Kandi Technolgies Trades On NASDAQ Global Market – As of last Monday, January 11th, Kandi Technologies switched from being traded on the NASDAQ Capital Market to the NASDAQ Global Market. The Chinese exporter of the CoCo LSV as well as gas and electric UTVs, ATVs, go-karts and other small, task-oriented vehicles trades under the symbol KNDI. Learn more: Motorsportsnewswire.wordpress.com

E-Z-GO Partners With Dixie Sales Company To Expand Service Network – E-Z-GO has partnered with Dixie Sales Company to offer qualified outdoor power equipment dealers the opportunity to become E-Z-GO authorized sales and service centers. As such, they will be able to offer parts and accessories for E-Z-GO and Cushman vehicles. Dixie Sales Company is an independent, full service, value added distributor. Learn more: Benzinga.com

Multi-passenger UTVs

Posted on December 3, 2010 by Marc Cesare

UTVguide.net recently published an overview of some of the UTVs on the market that seat four to six people. The multi-passenger UTV has been a recent trend in the market as the need has been identified to carry more workers, fellow hunters or recreational riders while using these vehicles. This trend parallels what years ago occurred in the full-size pickup market when crew cabs were added, which is not surprising since in many instances UTVs are replacing full-size pickups. Similar to some pickup trucks, some UTVs feature flexibility that allows the user to choose between more seating or more cargo space.

The multi-passenger trend is indicative of two larger trends in the UTV market as it continues to mature: the adoption of more vehicle features that are prevalent in the automotive market and the continuing segmentation of the UTV market as product lines are built out to meet more specific sets of user needs. These trends are one reason the UTV market will continue to grow. As the UTV market butts up against the pickup market, the increased functionality and flexibility of UTVs will allow them to steal some slices of market share from pickup trucks while in some instances the pickup truck has moved in the opposite direction towards the creature comforts of passenger cars. Learn more: UTVGuide.net

Nissan Planning A Small Urban Vehicle

Posted on December 2, 2010 by Marc Cesare

Nissan New Mobility Concept

Nissan recently announced that they are planning on introducing three additional electric vehicles besides the Leaf in the next three years. One will be a small urban vehicle, referred to as the New Mobility Concept. It is not known at this time what the performance parameters of the vehicle will be. While the New Mobility Concept looks very much like a low speed vehicle, Nissan could design the vehicle to have a higher top speed than currently allowed for LSVs. According to Nissan the vehicle could be the ideal last mile transportation solution for commuters connecting to public transit or for residents of planned communities.

Nissan’s entry into the LSV market would be an important event in the market since major auto manufacturers have not been active in the market, except for Chrysler which has operated under the GEM not Chrysler brand. Earlier forays into the previously labeled NEV market by the majors was essentially only to meet California ZEV mandates. Nissan’s move appears to be part of a strategic plan to develop a robust electric vehicle product line. Their market entry could also create more demand for NHTSA to develop a medium speed vehicle classification. Learn more: Reviews.cnet.com

Kandi COCOC LSV Receives Chinese Approval

Posted on November 30, 2010 by Marc Cesare

Kandi Technologies COCO LSV recently qualified to be eligible for certain Chinese government energy programs. The vehicles can now be marketed to Chinese consumers and government agencies and are available for various local and regional subsidies. Management also formalized a partnership with China-based battery maker Tianneng Power International, Ltd. and Jinhua Bada Group, a subsidiary of State Grid Power Corp. to create China’s first Electric Vehicle battery replacement services company. Kandi will make batteries available on a rental basis for their vehicles and the partnership will create a network of charging and battery replacement locations. Learn more: RTTNews.com

Polaris Wins National Guard UTV Contract

Posted on October 24, 2010 by Marc Cesare

Last week the National Guard Bureau awarded Polaris a contract to supply Ultra-Light Utility Vehicles to the Army National Guard. The five-year contract is topped at $67 million and includes vehicles as well as accessories and training. The Ranger Crew 800 and Polaris Ranger 6×6 800 produced in their Spirit Lake, Iowa facility will be the vehicles of choice.

I contacted the National Guard Bureau to find out some more contract specifics. They do not have an estimate on the number of vehicles that will be purchased but noted that it would depend on government funding and mission requirements. They added that the contract includes pricing for different configurations of the vehicles such as the inclusion of a hard or soft top, track kits, plows, and other components. Long-term servicing is not part of the agreement. The contract demonstrates continued success by Polaris as they target the military market as a key growth opportunity for the company. Learn more: Financialpost.com

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Category Archives: marketing