Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/780450
www.PowersportsBusiness.com MOTORCYCLE Powersports Business • February 13, 2017 • 27 Worldwide record sales in 2016 for Motorrad BMW Motorrad once again sold more motorcy- cles and maxi scooters in 2016 than ever before. Supplies increased by 5.9 percent as compared to the previous year. As of December 2016, a total of 145,032 vehicles were supplied to cus- tomers, compared to 136,963 units in 2015. "2016 was once again a highly success- ful year for BMW Motorrad," said Stephan Schaller, president of BMW Motorrad. "For the sixth time in succession we have been able to set a new sales record. I would like to offer my sincere thanks to all our customers worldwide for the enormous trust they have placed in us. Over the last six years, BMW Motorrad has increased its deliveries to customers by around 50 percent (98,047 units in 2010 vs. 145,032 units in 2016). We are well on the way to achieving our planned sales target of 200,000 vehicles in 2020." The most marked growth in sales in 2016 was seen in all European markets. There was an increase in deliveries to customers in France (13,350 units, up 6.4 percent), Italy (12,300 units, up 10.3 percent), Spain (9,520 units, up 19.4 percent) and the U.K. (8,782 units, up 7.1 percent). All in all, some 7.5 per- cent more vehicles were supplied to customers in Europe, including Germany, as compared to the previous year. The Chinese market in particular is con- tinuing to show considerable growth potential for BMW Motorrad with a dynamic increase in sales. As compared to the previous year, deliv- eries increased by 52.7 percent to 4,580 units. BMW NA sales drop 19 percent See BMW, Page 28 for moving through features and a red button for switching between modes. Once the KYMCO rider comes to a com- plete stop, outside of the driving lane, Noodoe can be switched into the stop mode. While in the stopped position, the dashboard will display notifications from the user's cellphone, including calls, messages, news and social media. Also, the user can manage which notifi- cations they would like to receive through the app on their cellphone. "Noodoe will definitely distinguish KYMCO from other brands," Ko said. "At least for a while, we will be the only brand that offers these types of features and keeping users con- nected the whole time. I think it will be very welcomed by the consumers." Noodoe's features can be personalized with designs created by each individual user and shared with others in the Noodoe cloud. The user can select any image to be used as a feature background, from a picture of friends and fam- ily to a favorite location. Users can also choose backgrounds and designs made by others who have uploaded their work to the cloud, and they can follow artists they like. "Personalization is very important part of our everyday life," he said. "You see people modify their bikes or their cars; everybody wants to do something to show they are differ- ent. Every one of our customers is unique and has different likes. They want to find a new way to self-express and define who they are — why not with scooters?" Ko says the technology, first unveiled at EICMA in Milan, has been a hit among both dealers and consumers since its initial launch. "So far, we have received very good reac- tions from everyone, so first I think this is going to elevate our brand reach," said Ko, who looks forward to the day when every KYMCO scooter is integrated with Noodoe technology. For the U.S. market, Noodoe will be available in 2018 on the Like 150i scooter, with a later model coming out in early 2019. "It's a scooter world outside of America, and today's interaction and integration of the global community is engaging the United States in a cultural shift. Noodoe is the per- sonal media of KYMCO scooters, engaging in the international language of emotion and images," Jones added. PSB KYMCO CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26 In the U.S. market, Noodoe will be available in 2018 on the Like 150i scooter, with a later model coming out in early 2019.