Category Archives: utility vehicles

Bad Boy Buggies Still Buggy – Recalled Again

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For a third time since 2009 Bad Boy Enterprises/BB Buggies is recalling a large number of their Bad Boy Buggies electric utility vehicles. ??This time the problem is a??steering assembly arm that can break and cause the driver to lose control, posing a crash hazard. ??To date 15 have been reported broken. ??The recall includes the Bad Boy LT, Classic, XT, XTO and XT Safari models. ??The following is from the US Consumer Safety Product Commission. ??Learn more: ??CPSC.gov

Name of Product:??Bad Boy Buggies off-road utility vehicles

Units:??About 3,200 (Bad Boy Classic buggies were previously recalled in??October 2009??and in??December 2010)

Manufacturer:??BB Buggies Inc., of Augusta, Ga. and Bad Boy Enterprises LLC, of Natchez, Miss.

Hazard:??The steering assembly arm can break and cause the driver to lose control, posing a crash hazard.

Incidents/Injuries:??The firm has received 15 reports of the steering assembly arm breaking. No injuries have been reported.

Description:??This recall involves Bad Boy LT, Classic, XT, XTO and XT Safari model electric off-road utility vehicles. The utility vehicles have four wheels, bench seats for the operator and passengers and were sold in camouflage patterns, hunter green, red and black. ???Bad Boy??? is printed on the side or front of the vehicles.

Sold at:??Bad Boy Buggy dealers nationwide from August 2009 through June 2011 for between $7,000 and $15,000.

Manufactured in:??United States

Remedy:??Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled utility vehicles and contact an authorized dealer or BB Buggies for a free replacement of the steering assembly.

Consumer Contact:??For additional information, contact BB Buggies toll-free at (855) 738-3711 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET or visit the firm???s website atwww.badboybuggies.com

 

Polaris Invests In Electric Motorcycle Manufacturer Brammo

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Polaris Industries is the lead investor for Brammo’s second round of financing totaling $28 million. ??Existing investors Alpine Energy and Northport Investments are also involved in supporting the electric motorcycle manufacturer for this round of financing. ??In total the company has raised nearly $40 million in financing since 2008.

Brammo is known for their battery and electric powertrain technology. ??The investment by Polaris should not only have synergies with their motorcycle products but with their electric utility vehicles and recently acquired GEM product line. ??Brammo has also partnered with Flextronics for manufacturing. ??Learn more: ??Techcrunch.com

Polaris Reports Record Results In 3Q

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Polaris Industries continues exhibiting strong growth in a down economy, increasing sales 26% in the 3Q to reach $729.9 million and increasing net income to $67.6 million from 47.2 million year over year. ??Year to date sales increased 37% to compared to last year. ??Management expects full year sales to increase 32% over 2010 figures to reach over $2.5 billion. ??Gains were made in a number of areas including net income, earnings per share, margins and in overseas markets, including the sluggish European market.

The Off-road division grew 25% for the quarter and 38% year to date based on gains in side-by-sides, military and international markets. ??Side-by-sides business increased over 20% in the quarter for Polaris compared to “low double digits” for the North American market as a whole. ??The ATV market continues to decline but Polaris is still gaining market share. ??Management also reports continuing success in penetrating commercial and rental markets through their partnership with Bobcat.

Learn more: ??Seekingalpha.com??(conference call transcript)

Cycle Country Accessories Reports Losses

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In late August Cycle Country Accessories, a designer and manufacturer of aftermarket products for ATVs and utility vehicles, reported a net loss of $431,191 for the three months ending June 30, compared to $583,541 in the same quarter a year ago. ??For nine months ending June 30, sales were $7.7 million and net loss $2.1 million vs. sales of $7.9 million and a $0.6 million loss the previous year. ??The company makes products such as??snowplow blades, lawnmowers, spreaders, sprayers, tillage equipment, winch mounts, and utility boxes. ??Learn more: ??Siouxcityjournal.com

John Deere Fills Out XUV Line

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John Deere has added two more vehicles to their XUV line of crossover utility vehicles. ??The XUV 550 and 550 S4 are billed as mid-duty vehicles to complement the existing 625i, 825i and the 855D models. ??The vehicles offer 9 inches of wheel travel, 10.5 inches of ground clearance, 16-hp, 570 cc, air-cooled, v-twin gas engine, and 400 lbs of cargo capacity. ??The S4 can carry 4 people or convert to two and increase the cargo bed size by 32%. Both models are available in Realtree Hardwoods??? HD Camo or traditional John Deere green and yellow. ??Learn more: ??4-traders.com

STOV Market Trender

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Thought I’d start a new type of post that highlights specific trends in the STOV market. ??This??inaugural??post covers the replacement of full-size pickups with utility vehicles. ??In Volusia County, FL they are phasing out the use of pick-ups for beach patrol duties. ??Citing a reduced threat to pedestrians and sunbathers, the county is now using Honda ATV’s and will be trying out a couple of Polaris 6×6 Ranger’s for beach patrol duties. ??Learn more: ??News-journalonline.com

Bad Boy Gets Disciplined By The CPSC

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Bad Boy Enterprises recently announced that they would pay a civil penalty of $715,000 to settle allegations by the Consumer Product Safety Commission that

Bad Boy Enterprises failed to immediately report, as required by federal law, a defect involving Classic Buggies off-road utility vehicles with Series brand and SePex brand electric motors that resulted in sudden acceleration incidents and injuries to consumers.??

The defect occurred in vehicles produced from 2003 to 2010. ??In agreeing to the settlement, Bad Boy Enterprises denies CPSC staff allegations as to the existence of a defect or hazard or that it violated the law. ??Learn more: ??CPSC.gov

Polaris Targets India For Growth

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In August Polaris introduced a broad selection of their off-road vehicles (ORVs) to the Indian market. ??The company expects to have twenty-five “sales touch points” in the country by the end of the year. ??Management has a goal of $100 million in ORV sales by 2016. ??They are also studying the feasibility of selling LSVs, leveraging their recently acquired GEM product line. ??Mahindra Reva is currently selling similar vehicles with a sales target of 3,000 vehicles per year. ??The government provides some incentives but infrastructure issues are an obstacle as well. ??Learn more: ??Business-standard.com

Tomberlin & Fallbrook Technologies Expand Joint Efforts

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The Tomberlin Group and Fallbrook Technologies along with TEAM Industries have announced that they will be expanding their product development efforts to include additional Tomberlin product lines. Originally focused on the Anvil, Fallbrook’s NuVinci transmission technology will now be put into other vehicles. They will also be accelerating the integration of the technology into the Anvil.

Fallbrook Technlogies CVP

Continuously Variable Planetary (CVP) Transmission

Unlike conventional gear and clutch transmissions, the NuVinci CVP uses a set of rotating and tilting balls positioned between the input and output components of the transmission that adjust to vary the speed of the transmission. ??Tilting the balls changes their contact diameters and varies the speed ratio. ??As a result, the NuVinci CVP offers a seamless and continuous transition to any ratio within its range in a compact, easy to manufacture and cost effective package that improves system performance.??

Learn more: ??Tomberlin.net

STOVs For The Farm or Ranch

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I came across a couple of stories about the use of small, task-oriented vehicles on farms/ranches. ??One considered the virtues of UTVs over ATVs while the other discussed the advantages of mini-trucks over UTVs. ??In the former, the rancher fashioned his own fencing attachment for his UTV that would allow him to carry all the necessary tools and material for fixing fences. The story also noted that UTVs were safer and lasted longer than ATVs.

In the other story, the enclosed cab of the mini-truck in inclement weather was a big plus compared to UTVs. Also noted was the cheaper cost and higher speed for traveling long distances between fields.

Learn more: ??Cattlenetwork.com?? ?? ??Ozarksfn.com