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Polaris Announces Partnership with Zero Motorcycles to Co-Develop Electric Vehicles

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by Daniel Patrascu from https://www.autoevolution.com Zero Motorcycles Taps Polaris to Make Electric Off-Road Vehicles and Snowmobiles The electric motorcycle industry is far from being as lucrative as the automobile one. Despite the efforts made by startups to make electric two-wheelers popular, established bike makers are still a long way from joining the fun, with Harley-Davidson being so far the only one risking to go down this path. Zero Motorcycles is one of the startups we mentioned, one of the oldest and arguably the most successful. On the market since 2006, Zero made a name for itself by selling affordable (when compared to what else is out there in this segment), high-performance electric motorcycles – yet the 9 or so models currently available are just the beginning. How would you feel about some incredible machines, powersports-destined ones, that could make use of electricity? Starting 2021, that’s exactly what we’ll get – Zero is joining the electric off-road vehicles and snowmobiles game. It won’t do it alone, but together with Polaris, after the two announced the signing of a 10-year agreement. More to the point, Zero will develop the powertrain technology (hardware and the electronic software), while Polaris will handle the development and manufacture of the rest of the vehicles. “This revolutionary partnership is bringing together two incredibly talented teams aimed at dramatically expanding the electric options in powersports,” said in a statement Zero Motorcycles CEO Sam Paschel. “Our EV expertise and millions of miles of real-world, rubber-meets-the-road EV experience, coupled with Polaris’ broad product portfolio, scale, supply chain and market leadership, makes this a game-changer for every powersports enthusiast.” For now, there are virtually no details on how many vehicles we’re talking about here, let alone their capabilities. We do know the first jointly-developed product should surface by the end of […]

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Indian motorcycle sales surge 37% following rollout of Challenger

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by Carrigan Miller and Mark Reilly from https://www.bizjournals.com Polaris Inc. stock is up sharply Tuesday morning after the maker of ATVs, snowmobiles and motorcycles reported better-than-expected profits for the fourth quarter, driven in part by the rollout of a new Indian motorcycle. The Medina, Minnesota-based manufacturer posted income of $98.9 million for the quarter, or $1.58 per share, up from $91.4 million, or $1.47 per share the year before. Adjusted earnings were $1.83 per share, ahead of Wall Street average estimates of $1.79. Sales were $1.73 billion, up 7% from the year-ago period but at the low end of Wall Street estimates. Sales growth was led by the company’s Indian Motorcycle division, which saw revenue increase by 37% to $116 million as Indian debuted the Challenger, a heavyweight touring bike. Indian is the vintage motorcycle brand that Polaris is marketing as an alternative to those sold by Milwaukee-based Harley-Davidson Inc. The Challenger is indicative of how Polaris is positioning Indian. Upon the rollout of the Challenger in October, motorsports industry writers were comparing it to Harley-Davidson’s Road Glide, a big touring bike that represented a sizable portion of Harley’s sales mix back in 2013, when the iconic motorcycle manufacturer put Road Glide on a hiatus that lasted all of one year. Indian unveils new Challenger lineup for 2020 As for Polaris, investors liked what they saw. Shares of Polaris closed up almost 6% Tuesday. The company may look particularly good in comparison to rival Harley-Davidson, which reported its lowest quarterly sales in years and missed Wall Street estimates by 6%, Barron’s reports. Shares of Harley (NYSE: HOG) closed down about 3% at $33.79. Sales in off-road vehicles and snowmobiles, still the company’s biggest business, grew by 7% as the fortunes for ATVs and snowmobiles diverged. Sales of off-roading vehicles like

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Polaris Off Road and Diesel Brothers Support America’s First Responders

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Polaris Off Road and Diesel Brothers Support America’s First Responders Through United We Ride Custom-Vehicle Program Polaris Off Road, the world leader in powersports and off-road innovation, today announced United We Ride – a partnership and fundraising effort with the Diesel Brothers that honors our nation’s military, police and fire departments. The program is highlighted by a Diesel Brothers’ customized series of recently launched Polaris machines. Each machine has been custom-made to honor a specific branch of American “first responders” – the RZR PRO XP Ultimate for policemen and policewomen, the RANGER CREW XP 1000 for firemen and firewomen, and the GENERAL XP 4 1000 for members of the U.S. military. Polaris United We Ride custom U.S. military, law enforcement and first responder machines. (Photo: Business Wire) The program is powered by a national voting process where consumers vote for their favorite build, and voting totals determine the donation amount from Polaris to each of the program’s three charity beneficiaries – $25,000 to first place, $15,000 to second and $10,000 to third place. By casting their vote, consumers are automatically entered for the chance to win an all-new RANGER CREW XP 1000 with Ride Command, RZR PRO XP Ultimate or a GENERAL XP 4 1000 DELUXE. “We are forever grateful for the commitment and sacrifice made by members of our military and first responders, and we are proud to continue our 15-year tradition of providing vehicles for their duties and their well-deserved free time,” said Kyle Duea, vice president of Off-Road Vehicle Marketing, Polaris. “Partnering with the Diesel Brothers to customize our machines and drive awareness of these charities is merely one way we can show our appreciation, while honoring their daily efforts to protect us, our communities and our freedom.” The United We Ride program will be donating to

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Does Indian Motorcycle Have a Harley-Davidson Problem?

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by Rich Duprey from https://www.fool.com/ Sales remained aloft longer than its rival, but now even its sales are falling. As much as falling motorcycle sales at Harley-Davidson (NYSE:HOG) have been attributed to its core customer aging out of the market while the next generation of riders seems uninterested in buying the big bikes it produces, Indian Motorcycle sidestepped most of the same pitfalls even though it produces many of the same kinds of motorcycles as Harley does. Since being resurrected from bankruptcy by Polaris Industries (NYSE:PII) and returned to the market in 2014, Indian has been a steady performer with retail sales often rising in the double-digit percentages. That has allowed it to steal market share from Harley, whose sales often contracted at similar percentages. Yet with Polaris’ third-quarter earnings report released last month, investors may have to accept that Indian Motorcycle now has its own Harley-Davidson problem. A worsening sales decline Polaris Industries is not transparent at all when it comes to telling you how its motorcycle business is performing. Where Harley breaks down sales and shipments by geographic region and type of motorcycle, Polaris provides vague percentage increases or declines, maybe calling out a model once in a while, but never giving investors any real insight into how Indian’s various motorcycles are performing. What we do know is that despite double- and even triple-digit sales growth early on, Indian Motorcycle sales are now quickly spiraling down. Even as Polaris obscures the actual numbers, a mid-teen-percentage decline in retail sales that far eclipses the contraction of the broader motorcycle market suggests that this is becoming a big problem for the bike maker. Worse, the downdraft is accelerating. In the second quarter, Polaris said Indian retail sales were down by almost 10%, while in the first quarter they were down

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Harley-Davidson’s stock falls after KeyBanc turns bearish, citing competition from Polaris’s Challenger bike

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Shares of Harley-Davidson Inc. HOG, -1.22% fell 0.7% in morning trading Monday, after KeyBanc Capital analyst Brett Andress turned bearish on the motorcycle maker, citing concerns over competition from Polaris Inc.’s PII, +1.85% Indian brand of bikes. Andress cut his rating on Harley’s stock to underweight, after being at sector weight since August 2017, and set his price target at $33, which is 15.5% below current levels. “Indian’s new Challenger bike is aimed squarely at [Harley’s] dominant Road Glide ([about] 80% share of 32K-unit market),” Andress wrote in a note to clients. “Indian introduced the Challenger bike on Oct. 29 to immediate fanfare and, on paper, the bike surpasses its competition in almost every important metric (primarily a new liquid-cooled engine), a setup we view as likely to disrupt a rather complacent status quo.” Polaris’s stock rose 0.9% in morning trading. Andress estimates the new competition could drive an earnings-per-share headwind of about 25 cents. Harley’s stock has rallied 14.5% year to date, while Polaris shares have surged 30.4% and the S&P 500 SPX, +0.37% has gained 23.0%.

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Indian motorcycles taps into 100-year roots with Japan relaunch

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By Chester Dawson and Reed Stevenson from Bloomberg and https://auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com Even though Japan’s population is shrinking and economic growth is tepid, the archipelago is one of the top five markets for heavy bikes. Polaris is seeking to boost Indian’s single-digit market share to 10% by 2025. A century ago, Indian motorcycles were the brand of choice for Japan’s police. They were called “aka-bai” — or red bikes — because of their color. Now, the maker of big American two-wheelers is seeking to recapture some of that glory with a brand relaunch. Recreational vehicle maker Polaris Inc., which makes and sells Indian bikes, is betting that it can gain market share from entrenched foreign rivals such as BMW Motorrad and Harley-Davidson Inc. Instead of relying on a single distributor, the Medina, Minnesota-based company now has its own operations in Japan, with plans to double its store count to 30. Even though Japan’s population is shrinking and economic growth is tepid, the archipelago is one of the top five markets for heavy bikes. Polaris is seeking to boost Indian’s single-digit market share to 10% by 2025. It has taken direct control over local marketing, which it had outsourced after buying the Indian Motorcycle brand and relaunching it globally in 2011. “We weren’t doing the rational thing in Japan,” said Kintaro Izumida, general manager of Polaris in Japan. He works out of an office in Yokohama with about a half-dozen other employees. “Now we’re going to do that.” Harley provides a rich target as the longtime market leader among import brands, with a 44% share of the 20,385 bikes sold last year, according to the Japan Automobile Importers Association. Japan’s domestic bike makers — Honda Motor Co., Kawasaki Motors Corp., Suzuki Motor Corp. and Yamaha Motor Co. — specialize in smaller-engine mass market

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Polaris Slingshot Invites You to Win a Trip to Hawaii During The “Summer of Fun”

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Win a trip to Maui for you and a +1 and experience the Road to Hana by test driving a Slingshot! Costa Mesa (June 21, 2019)- Polaris Slinghsot, the three wheeled autocycle that is a hit to look at and a dream to drive is the key to your trip to Hawaii this summer. Slingshot is offering a trip to Maui, Hawaii during their “Summer of Fun” sweepstakes. The Sweepstakes start June 21st and end September 22nd. To enter, all prospective Slingshot owners must test drive a Slingshot at a participating dealership to get their name in the drawing. Slingshot owners can also enter the sweepstakes by posting on their social media and tagging Slingshot. Each post will enter your name into the sweepstakes, there is a limit of one entry per month. Slingshot owners and Slingshot prospects will be entered in separate categories of the sweepstakes to avoid conflict. With four distinct models, the 2019 Slingshot lineup takes style, technology, and comfort to a whole new level. Select 2019 models feature the seven-inch touchscreen RideCommand® infotainment system with turn-by-turn navigation, while all Slingshot models are powered by a 2.4L GM engine that creates 173 horsepower and 166 ft-lbs of torque. Slingshot’s 2019 lineup includes four models: the S, SL, SLR, and Grand Touring. Pricing ranges from $20,999 (S) to $30,999 (Grand Touring). Owners can personalize their Slingshot with a variety of Slingshot Engineered Accessories, including the revolutionary Slingshade®, a color-matched top offering superb rider comfort and sun protection.  Also available are interior upgrades and technology enhancements, such as Rockford Fosgate® audio, Ride Command® infotainment system, wind deflectors, and storage bags. For the ultimate customization, most accessories are available in a variety of factory color-matched options. For more information about Slingshot, or to find a dealer, visit PolarisSlingshot.com. Follow Slingshot

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Threesome Report: Make Some Room, Trike Riders Don’t Ride Alone

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TRIKE NEWS Adventures on a Ural, Autocycle madness, 2019 Freewheeler, Deals, Offers, Discounts. Tracy Getty, a World War 2 historian shares the chair, lighting up sparks of love with a Ural sidecar motorcycle. Tracy and her ride named “Wildcat” bring joy to people who never knew what three-wheels and a smile could do. We bring you a basic background on the craziness of Autocycles and how it is affecting motorcycle industry, riders, insurance and legislation. While there are companies that want a motorcycle classification to avoid car crash testing expenses, there are others who want true innovation and a new understanding of where Autocycles stand in State and Federal law – and it is all really unsteady despite having more than two-wheels. Harley-Davidson Freewheeler has a 2019 model that rocks. You can own a Ural or a Slinghsot for incredible deals on 2018 models. If you are an actual Trike lover with custom trike business or a custom trike, you would want to know what the financial and legal implications (pronounced as complications) are going to be. READ IT AT Trikes.Bikernet.com NOW

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Threesome Report 20-Jan Trikes.bikernet.com

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Threesome Report 20-Jan : Make American Trikes Great Again Campagna Motors now in USA and you can own the company. Polaris Slingshot to participate in Race of Champions at Miami, Florida. Ural’s 2016 models on discounted sale. Uniformed forces of USA get flat discounts on Indian Motorcycles. Resident Hippie – Raymond Hamilton is back and actually sober which is worse. CLICK TO READ ONLY AT Trikes.bikernet.com Stay tuned for second episode of Ural Phenomenon on http://Trikes.Bikernet.com Yours truly, Ujjwal Dey.

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