For the week of February 13, 2022.
Here are a couple of stories that came across my desk that I think are relevant and interesting to the powersports business community.
1 – Progressive IMS Outdoors Announces 2022 Tour Schedule
Progressive IMS Outdoors, the nation’s leading motorcycle tour connecting enthusiasts with a wide array of Powersports brands, today announced the dates and locations of its 2022 tour. Produced with Progressive Insurance as the title sponsor for the 13th consecutive year, the eight-city series will revisit three markets that hosted the indoor version of the International Motorcycle Shows (Colorado, Arizona, and New York) and return to five markets that IMS Outdoors visited last tour (Chicago, Pennsylvania, Atlanta, and Northern and Southern California).
Tickets will go on sale on March 24 at www.motorcycleshows.com.
Heading into the sophomore year, the experience-focused event will bring back the popular two-wheel and four-wheel demo programs, eBikes, shopping, custom and vintage bikes, and music, while also offering more chances for enthusiasts to engage with brands and their riding community, from ride-ins and races to speakers and charitable efforts.
“The launch of IMS Outdoors was an exciting challenge that armed us with learnings we look forward to applying on the 2022 tour, including an expansion of the highly successful demo program, growing our electric footprint, and adding more experience-focused offerings,” said Tracy Harris, SVP of Progressive IMS Outdoors. “The Powersports industry is amid a transformative period in time as new brands emerge, such as bespoke and electric companies, and we welcome an all-new generation of riders. We are so proud to cater our event to the changing needs of the industry and reunite everyone from new riders and kids to life-long enthusiasts.”
2021 Tour Results:
- More than 35,000 motorcycle demo rides were taken across the eight-city tour
- Nearly half, 44%, of attendees were new to riding or prospective riders; IMS is a catalyst for industry-wide growth and is driving new customers for exhibitors and event sponsors
- The introduction of SxS and eBike demos were well-received and indicated the community’s growing interest in adjacent products
- Influenced by IMS’ award-winning Discover The Ride program, three different programs put more than 1,600 adults and teens on a motorcycle for the first time
- Nearly 1,700 kids rode two-wheeled balance and battery-operated bikes with Strider, Harley-Davidson, and Husquvarna
Harris continued: “We could not be more excited to announce this year’s tour schedule, which was built in partnership with the industry’s leading OEMs. Our team is working diligently to produce an even more robust event that brings the love of riding to life and look forward to sharing more details regarding activations and participating brands with our community soon.”
IMS 2022 Schedule:
- COLORADO
The Ranch Events Complex
June 17-19, 2022
- CHICAGO
Goebbert’s Farm
June 24-26, 2022
- PENNSYLVANIA
Carlisle Fairgrounds
September 16-18, 2022
- NEW YORK
The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
September 23-25, 2022
- ATLANTA
Venue TBA
September 30 – October 2, 2022
- NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Santa Mateo County Event Center
October 21-23, 2022
- ARIZONA
Westworld of Scottsdale
October 28-30, 2022
- SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
OC Fair & Event Center
November 4-6, 2022
2 – Oil brand posts record sales in 2021 – From Powersports Business
When you look back at the number of bottles of oil that your dealership sold in 2021, there’s a strong chance that one brand made some impressive headway throughout the year.
Oil and additive specialist LIQUI MOLY closed 2021 with record sales of 733 million euro ($828 million). Earnings before taxes also soared to 38 million euro, a 40% increase vs. 2020. “This is a great result for a difficult year, but it is still a long way from the level we had before the pandemic,” said managing director Ernst Prost.
READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE HERE – https://powersportsbusiness.com/top-stories/2022/02/15/oil-brand-posts-record-sales-in-2021/
3 – Leading Motorcycling Organizations Meet With Department of Transportation Secretary Buttigieg
The Motorcycle Industry Council, American Motorcyclist Association, and Motorcycle Safety Foundation join forces to share the priorities of the motorcycling community and industry with U.S. Department of Transportation
PICKERINGTON, Ohio (Feb. 16, 2022) — In a collaborative effort to raise awareness of key issues and opportunities facing the motorcycle industry, riders, and motorcycle safety, the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC), American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) joined forces to share industry priorities with United States Department of Transportation Secretary Buttigieg and department staff.
Following the recent passage of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the MIC, AMA, and MSF voiced strong support for the investment in education, awareness, highway infrastructure, and the reauthorization of the Motorcyclist Advisory Council (MAC) to further inform the DOT, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) about ways to improve infrastructure to make roads safer for motorcyclists. They emphasized that actions required under the IIJA must include motorcyclists.
The meeting also included a discussion around the need to ensure that both recognition and reaction to motorcycles are fully integrated into the developing crash avoidance and autonomous vehicle technologies in order to ensure safety for motorcyclists and drivers.
Industry leaders on the call noted that Secretary Buttigieg was very engaged in the discussion. He expressed a keen awareness and interest in ensuring that motorcyclists and the motorcycle safety community are part of safe roadway development. Additionally, he conveyed a clear understanding of the limitations and challenges autonomous vehicles present. The industry leaders expressed great appreciation for the Secretary’s desire to include the motorcycle community in the implementation of infrastructure improvements and rollout of provisions in the highway reauthorization bill.
“Secretary Buttigieg was very receptive to our concerns regarding autonomous vehicles and the potential dangers they pose to motorcyclists,” said Rob Dingman, president and CEO of the American Motorcyclist Association. “The Secretary was familiar with the work of the Motorcyclist Advisory Council, chaired by AMA Director of Government Relations Mike Sayre, and conveyed his intention to reconstitute the MAC as soon as possible. We are eager to build on the work of the MAC and work with the motorcycling community to implement the MAC’s recommendations to make our roads safer for motorcyclists.”
“With the passage of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, DOT has been equipped with resources to address decades of infrastructure needs as well as formulate a transportation system for the 21st century. Today’s meeting was a great start to ensuring that the motorcycle community has a seat at the table,” said Erik Pritchard, president and CEO of the Motorcycle Industry Council. “The Department has the tools to improve road infrastructure and design, improve awareness and safety, and ensure evolving automated technologies recognize and react to motorcycles.”
“We are very thankful for Secretary Buttigieg placing a priority on increased safety for the motorcycling community,” said Scott Schloegel, senior vice president of government relations, Motorcycle Safety Foundation. “We look forward to working closely with him and his teams at NHTSA and FHWA as they work to reduce traffic deaths through education and awareness as well as improved infrastructure and technologies.”
ABOUT THE AMERICAN MOTORCYCLIST ASSOCIATION
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. Besides offering members money-saving discounts on products and services, the AMA also publishes American Motorcyclist, a recently revitalized and monthly full-color magazine (and digital version of same) that covers current events and motorcycle history with brilliant photography and compelling writing. American Motorcyclist is also North America’s largest-circulation magazine. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit americanmotorcyclist.com.
ABOUT THE MOTORCYCLE INDUSTRY COUNCIL
The Motorcycle Industry Council, under its marquee market expansion brand, Ride With Us, is working to introduce everyone to the incomparable thrill of riding a motorcycle. The MIC is a not-for-profit trade association representing motorcycle manufacturers, distributors, aftermarket companies, dealers, retailers, and a variety of related organizations providing vital support to the powersports industry. The MIC advocates for fair policy and regulatory environments, works to deliver valuable data to the industry, and strives to bring the joy of riding to everyone, everywhere.
Established in 1914, the MIC is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., with a government relations office in metropolitan Washington, D.C. Keep up with the industry association on Twitter @followMIC, online at MIC.org, and through the weekly MIC RideReport.
ABOUT THE MOTORCYCLE SAFETY FOUNDATION
The Motorcycle Safety Foundation promotes safety through rider training and education, operator licensing tests, and public information programs. As the nation’s premiere motorcycle safety education and training organization, MSF’s curriculum is used in 46 states and by the federal government, the military, and others to offer training for all skill levels so riders can enjoy a lifetime of safe, responsible motorcycling. Standards established by the MSF have been recognized worldwide since 1973.
The MSF is a not-for-profit organization endorsed by American Honda Motor Co., Inc.; BMW Motorrad USA; BRP, Inc.; Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Inc.; Indian Motorcycle; Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.; KTM North America, Inc.; Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.; Triumph Motorcycles America; and Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. For safety information or to enroll in an MSF Basic RiderCourse near you, or to learn more about the many other MSF course offerings, visit MSF-USA.org or call (800) 446-9227. Follow @msf__usa to keep up with the MSF on Twitter and Instagram.
4 – Parts Unlimited forms $100K partnership with Enfield’s BTR program – From Powersports Business
Royal Enfield’s Build. Train. Race. (BTR) program has announced that both the BTR Road Race and Flat Track programs will be supported by Parts Unlimited throughout the 2022 season.
Parts Unlimited will be an essential part of the program, providing a parts and gear allotment totaling over $100,000. Each BTR program participant will receive a credit to order parts needed in order to build their Royal Enfield INT 650 and Continental GT 650 motorcycles into proper race machines. On top of this generous stipend, Parts Unlimited is going a step further and providing all of the participants with Alpinestars boots and gloves.
READ THE ENTIRE PRESS RELEASE HERE – https://powersportsbusiness.com/top-stories/2022/02/15/parts-unlimited-forms-100k-partnership-with-enfields-btr-program/
5 – PSB debuts new dealership initiative – Women With Spark nominations open
Powersports Business is now accepting nominations for its 2022 Women With Spark dealership program to recognize and honor women who accelerate growth and profitability at the dealership level.
Debuting in 2022, the Powersports Business Women With Spark program recognizes the numerous women at the powersports dealership ownership and staff level who have made large contributions to the dealership’s success, propelled its growth and are guiding the business into the future. The brick-and-mortar dealerships must sell either new or pre-owned units as part of their lineup.
Complete the nomination form HERE – https://powersportsbusiness.com/top-stories/2022/02/16/psb-debuts-new-dealership-initiative-women-with-spark/
6 – Kawasaki Announces All-New Dealer Marketing Application with the Kawasaki Social Video Creator
From Motorsports News Wire
Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. is pleased to announce an all-new and innovative marketing application within its dealer marketing portal, the Kawasaki Social Video Creator. The Kawasaki Social Video Creator is an innovative tool allows Kawasaki dealers to select and stitch together running footage of Kawasaki’s powersports product lines into 15, 30, and 60-second video clips that can be uploaded to a dealer’s social media channel. This new concept will allow dealers to customize their social media content with high-quality footage of Kawasaki products.
READ THE ENTIRE PRESS RELEASE HERE – https://motorsportsnewswire.com/2022/02/17/kawasaki-announces-all-new-dealer-marketing-application-with-the-kawasaki-social-video-creator/
7 – Segway Powersports reveals over 40 dealerships partners From Powersports Business – READ COMPLETE NEWS HERE – https://powersportsbusiness.com/top-stories/2022/02/17/segway-powersports-reveals-over-40-dealerships-partners/
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