signed up for AIMExpo,
Columbus, Ohio, September 21-24
Following the decision to relocate AIMExpo from Orlando, Florida, to the midwestern United States, the events division of the MIC (Motorcycle Industry Council), which owns and operates the expo, has announced that it now has exhibit involvement from “most of the major OE motorcycle manufacturers with significant North American sales.”
With the motorcycle division of Polaris (Indian Motorcycle and Slingshot) and Harley-Davidson announcing that they will exhibit for the first time, and BRP (Bombardier Recreational Products – Can-Am, See-Doo and Ski-Doo) renewing their commitment, many analysts are now forecasting that the event will have reached “critical mass” in terms of its ability to attract dealers.
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| Larry Little, Vice President & General Manager of organiser MIC Events: “Some 41% of powersports dealers and 50% of the US population reside within 500 miles of AIMExpo’s new location in the city of Columbus” |
Other motorcycle and powersports industry vehicle manufacturers to have confirmed their plans to exhibit include Honda, American Lifan, KTM, CFMoto, Textron Off-Road (including the recently acquired Arctic Cat), Kawasaki, Suzuki, Kymco, Yamaha, SSR Motorsports/Benelli, Hisun Motors and Spanish trials and e-bike specialist Torrot Gas Gas. Additionally, BMW are providing corporate demo rides at AIMExpo Outdoors.
As this edition of IDN went to press, the only major omissions appear to be Triumph, Ducati and Piaggio/Vespa, which is a real surprise, given how well each claim to be doing in the U.S. and their stated ambitions to grow their sales and dealer networks further.
Notable European aftermarket vendors confirmed already include Akrapovic, Puig/Motoplastic, Avon Tyres, Beringer Brakes, Continental, Polisport, EBC Brakes, Givi, PROX Racing Parts, Heidenau, Motorex (who are celebrating their 100th anniversary this year), SW-Motech, NEXX, Ohlins, UFO Plast, TecMate, Wind Trading and Oxford Products.
“At this time, some 80 percent of the available floorspace is contracted,” Larry Little, Vice President & General Manager of organizer MIC Events, told IDN Magazine when we spoke with him in June. “Some 41% of powersports dealers and 50% of the US population reside within 500 miles of AIMExpo’s new location in the city of Columbus. This central location and ease of access offers all attendees the opportunity to engage with the greater powersports industry like never before.
“From a manufacturer’s point of view, the timing is perfect as it offers an opportunity for new model year launches to be shown to a consumer audience soon after the ranges have been introduced to dealers.”
AIMExpo is trade only for its first two days, September 21/22, followed by two public/consumer days at the weekend, September 23/24, a schedule that provides the North American powersports industry with a similar expo formula to the one that has been commonplace at world leading motorcycle industry shows such as INTERMOT (Cologne, Germany) and EICMA (Milan, Italy).
Little went on to say that “the show’s platform was created to shine a spotlight on American industry as well as the world’s largest recreational powersports market. The European style two-day trade/two-day consumer attendance formula will mean all our 500 plus exhibitors will be appreciated by media, trade and consumer audiences alike.”
www.aimexpousa.com
