Illinois has become the latest state to refine its dealership franchise laws preventing OEMs from forcing their dealers to relocate; reducing the control that OEMs have over dealership aftermarket parts displays (dealers can now mix aftermarket parts with OEM items and don’t have to install separate racking), and allowing Illinois dealers to source store fittings from vendors others than OEM-approved suppliers.
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The future of Schwinn branded scooters is in doubt following the bankruptcy of licensee Tomberlin Automotive Group (TAG). It would appear that a court judgement concerning $1.56 million in unpaid licensing fees has resulted in the bankruptcy filing, with the Canadian owners of the Schwinn brand stating that licensing the brand to anybody else is “not a priority.”
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BMW are reporting a 17 percent increase in US sales for 2013, with 14,100 bikes sold. Worldwide, BMW say they reached a third consecutive sales record – 115,191 bikes/8.3 percent increase. Top seller in the US and worldwide is the R1200 GS. The company says it is launching five new models in the first quarter in the US including the R nine T roadster.
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E-bike manufacturer Brammo have increased operations space from 25,000 to 100,000 square feet and consolidated operations from five buildings down to one, a former Walmart site at Talent, Oregon. CEO Craig Bramscher hopes to achieve sales of 1,000 motorcycles this year, and says the new facility has the capacity to assemble 5,000 a year. The company is presently awaiting EU homologation for its ‘Empulse’ model.
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KTM announced record sales in 2013, up 15.6 percent at 123,859 units, with revenue of €716.3 million (up 17 percent) and that it now employs some 1,850 people. The company is claiming that 2013 saw it post a third consecutive year as the fastest growing motorcycle brand in the world.
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The motorcycle ‘Black Book’ is reporting that more used unit buyers are paying closer to market value and that as dealers build inventory for the spring and summer season, used models may finally be in balance with demand. Overall, prices are now said to be decreasing by small amounts year on year with street bikes, scooters and dual-sport motorcycle prices currently down by only -0.5 percent.
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The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has imposed a $120,000 civil penalty on four Dallas based businesses and their owner for importing some 24,000 motorcycles and recreational vehicles in violation of Clean Air Act (CAA) regulations and documentation requirements. The EPA says that they discovered the alleged violations through inspections at Long Beach, California, and other US ports of entry.
