NEWs

Congressional testimony given on effects of lead law

Powersports Business

Tuesday September 15, 2009

Discussion continues on a national level over a law that earlier this year led to new youth-designed ATVs, motorcycles and snowmobiles being taken off showroom floors.

The effects of the 2008 Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) were discussed at a recent U.S. House subcommittee hearing in Washington, D.C. Appearing before the committee was Inez Tenenbaum, the new Consumer Safety Product Commission (CPSC) chairman.

In part of her testimony, Tenenbaum said the federal government and the powersports industry are discussing ways to ensure such youth-designed vehicles meet the CPSIA conditions.

In wake of that testimony, the Motorcycle Industry Council released a statement. Part of that statement said, “There are two common sense ways to end the CPSIA's unintended ban on youth model vehicles and to protect children from the real risks of operating larger, faster adult-sized vehicles: 1) Congress or the CPSC should limit the parts of youth off-highway vehicles deemed 'accessible' under the lead content restrictions to those components that riders routinely interact with during normal operation; or 2) youth off-highway vehicles should be categorically exempted from restrictions, as provided in legislation already introduced by U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg (H.R. 1587) and Sen. Jon Tester (S. 608).”

For more on the MIC position and Tenenbaum's testimony, see an upcoming edition of Powersports Business.

U.S. retail sales surge in August

Powersports Business

Tuesday September 15, 2009

U.S. retail sales rose at the fastest pace in 3? years in August, Reuters reported today.

The Commerce Department said retail sales climbed 2.7 percent after declining 0.2 percent in July. It was the biggest monthly advance since January 2006.

“Retail sales show the recovery is here. This wasn't just autos, it wasn't just gasoline. This was the U.S. consumer getting out of their foxhole,” T.J. Marta, market strategist at Marta on the Markets, told the news agency. “This is indisputably a good number.”

Motor vehicle and parts sales surged 10.6 percent, thanks to the government's “Cash for Clunkers” program. Rising gasoline prices also added to the increase in overall retail sales. The report also showed strength across most sectors, with the exception of furniture and building materials.

Excluding motor vehicles and parts, sales jumped 1.1 percent in August after falling 0.5 percent in July.

Polaris' military ATV business expands

Powersports Business

Friday August 21, 2009

Polaris Industries has received an additional $6 million in orders from the Army to provide vehicles, parts and accessories of the company's militarized ATV, the MV700.

The additional vehicles and parts will be used for operations in Afghanistan, Polaris said in a press release.

Polaris' MV700 previously has been involved in a variety of missions conducted in urban, rural, mountain and desert areas worldwide.

“Polaris is very proud to continue its role in providing the U.S. Army and its allies with world-class machines that can be relied on to perform under the toughest conditions,” Bennett Morgan, Polaris' president and chief operating officer, said in the press release.

“We are very serious about what it takes to be a long-term valued supplier to military and government customers.”

Polaris has been supplying a family of vehicles to the U.S. Department of Defense as well as other government agencies and U.S. allies for the past five years.

About 3,800 UTVs recalled

Powersports Business

Friday August 7, 2009

Polaris Industries voluntarily conducted a recall of its model year 2009 Ranger 700 EFI Crew and Ranger 700 EFI 6x6 UTVs, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

In cooperation with the CPSC, Polaris recalled about 3,800 UTVs because of a potential electrical short, which can lead to overheating in the rear tail light wiring harnesses, posing a fire hazard to consumers, reported the CPSC.

Polaris has received 46 reports of overheating in the vehicle's tail light area, resulting in melting of plastic. In 22 of these reports, consumers reported small flames. No injuries have been reported.

The model and serial number identification decal is located under the front seat, on the right-side seat support.

The vehicles were sold at Polaris dealers nationwide from December 2008-July for about $11,500.

Arctic Cat ends once-a-year ATV ordering system

Powersports Business

Friday July 31, 2009

Arctic Cat is changing its ATV distribution, allowing dealers to make new unit orders three times per year rather than just once a year.

Arctic Cat officials said dealers now will be making their orders in June, August and January rather than at a summer-time company dealer network show.

“This new approach will allow us to better manage dealer orders and actual retail activity, lower dealer inventories and reduce overall costs so that more dollars will be available for retail programs,” Arctic Cat CEO Chris Twomey said during the company's recent quarterly report conference call.

Arctic Cat is slated to introduce some of its 2010 ATV lineup early this month and dealers will be ordering that new product as part of the second cycle of orders.

“This is a great opportunity for us to learn this because going forward this is probably the new normal as we think about how we think about how we