VP Racing fuels recently launched their new T4 fuel for powersports. ??The fuel is only for use in competition vehicles such as UTVs, ATVs and motorcycles. ??T4 was developed in response to complaints about ethanol in pump gas causing problems with fuel injectors and??carburetors. ??Learn more: ??Powersportsbusiness.com
The Washington State Senate has passed a bill that will charge electric vehicle owners a $100 fee to compensate for lost gas taxes. ??The bill reportedly does not apply to LSVs. ??The revenues would be used to fund road repair and related services. ??The bill still has to pass the House. Learn more: ??Plugincars.com
Eric Bondy, the President and CEO of KYMCO USA since 2004, has joined E-Z-GO as Vice President, Consumer Value Stream. ??In his new position he will be responsible for??strategy development and execution, worldwide sales, marketing, product development and channel development for a wide range of vehicles??including Bad Boy Buggies, E-Z-GO???s Terrain and Express lines of UTVs, the Freedom line of personal golf cars, and the 2Five line of LSVs.
Reports from Bangladesh indicate a small but fast growing mini-truck market. In 2011 the market was estimated to be 8,500 vehicles and the Tata Ace mini-truck, manufactured in neighboring India,??accounts for over ninety percent of the market. ??Tata started selling their mini-trucks in Bangladesh in 2009, selling 3,500 vehicles that first year.
The local distributor??Nitol Motors attributes their sales success to growing demand across many industries and a reduced down payment for purchasers. ??Instead of requiring a 50% initial payment, they only require 30% and sometimes as low as 20%. ??This has enabled local entrepreneurs to start their own goods shipping businesses. ??According to Nitrol Motors half the market is for this type of business and the other half for general business use. ??Buyers are most concerned with the initial payment costs instead of total vehicle costs. ?? The success of the Tata Ace has also taken a large chunk of the used and reconditioned mini-truck market. ??Learn more: ??Thedailystar.net
An important driver for the consumer LSV market has been the growth of retirement and over 55 master planned/gated communities to serve aging Baby Boomers. ??While many of these communities have been associated with retirement areas in Florida, California, Arizona and the Carolinas, a recent planning document from Washington state points to more widespread potential outside those states and master planned communities. ??Recently??the Clark County Aging Readiness Task Force presented over 90 recommendations to county officials to address the county’s aging population. ??A number of the recommendations deal specifically with transportation issues and one of the general recommendations is to support the use of neighborhood electric vehicles. ??County officials expect that??by 2030, 25% of local residents will be 60 or older compared to around 16% today. ??”Seniors are the fastest growing segment of the local population and, statewide, Washington will rank 11th in the nation.” ??Learn more: ??Columbian.com
This is an update to an earlier Market Trender post about a county replacing pickups with UTVs for beach patrol. ??The initial impetus for the new vehicles was a string of accidents where sunbathers were??accidentally??run over by life guards driving pickup trucks. ??An issue in the incidents was the height of the trucks and the limited visibility they provided in the context of beachgoers laying down on the sand. ??The county has purchased two vehicles and will add eight more vehicles by March. ??Besides offering increased visibility, the UTVs??operate better in soft sand and the open sides make it more inviting for beachgoers to approach lifeguards. ??The UTVs carry a surfboard, backboard and other safety equipment. ??Learn more: ??Orlandosentinel.com
Highlighting some of the many applications for small, task-oriented vehicles
Lewis County's New UTV: A Search & Rescue command center for backwoods operations
??Search and Rescue Command Center Vehicle – In Lewis County in upstate New York a Polaris Ranger UTV was recently purchased to serve as a command center for search and rescue operations. ??The vehicle cost $19,000 and was funded with a grant from the Federal Department of Homeland Security. ??Other funding covered the $4,000 for a track kit that expands the vehicle capabilities in snowy conditions. ??The vehicle also includes a heated cab, 100 watt radio system,??emergency floodlights, a winch and a small emergency generator. ??Any agency in the county will be able to use the vehicle in addition to it’s use as a search and??rescue??vehicle. ??Learn more: ??Watertowndailytimes.com
As part of a recent overhaul of their product lines in the UTV market, Textron, through it’s Ransomes Jacobsen subsidiary, recently launched their new Cushman Hauler line in the UK. ??The line features four models: ??Hauler 800, Hauler 1000, Hauler 1200 and Hauler 1200x. ??The Hauler 800 comes in electric or gas versions with a vehicle payload capacity of 363 kg. ??The Hauler 1000 is electric powered with a 465 kg payload capacity. ??The Hauler 1200 is gas driven with a 544 kg capacity. ??For rougher terrain the Hauler 1200x is offered in gas or electric versions with 15.2 cm and 13.5 cm of ground clearance and 454 kg and 363 kg payloads respectively. ??All but the Hauler 800 offer a larger volume cargo bed as an option. ??The electric powered models feature 48 volt systems and the gas models have 13 hp Kawasaki engines. ??Common standard features include:
Other accessories are available for customizing. ??Learn more: ??Pitchcare.com
Electric truck manufacturer Electric Vehicles International (EVI) has expanded their manufacturing capacity by adding 30,000 square feet and new equipment to their Stockton, CA headquarters. ??The company also opened a sales office in Michigan. ??EVI produces larger electric trucks than what we see in the STOV market such as medium duty delivery trucks and walk-in vans. ??For the STOV market they offer their E-Mega, a light duty, 72 volt truck with a top speed of 35 mph that is powered by a lithium battery pack.??Learn more: ??CVBizjornal.com
Last week Arctic Cat reported the results for their third quarter which ended December 31, 2011. ??Management reported net sales of??$207.0 million ??compared to $152.0 million for the the prior-year third quarter. ??Net earnings for the same time periods was $17.0 million and $9.3 million respectively. ??The sales increase was driven by??increased snowmobile sales and international all-terrain vehicle (ATV) sales, as well as the first shipments of their??new Wildcat sport side-by-side vehicle. ??Arctic Cat’s ATV sales include ATVs and side-by-side vehicles.?? “ATV sales increased 12 percent to??$54.4 million??in the fiscal 2012 third quarter versus??$48.6 million in the same period last year, with strong contributions from Arctic Cat???s Prowler line of side-by-sides.” ??The company expects to increase production of the Wildcat in the fourth quarter. ??Learn more: ??Arcticcat.com
Earnings Call Highlights: