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www.PowersportsBusiness.com NEWS Powersports Business • May 26, 2014 • 3 The 51-125cc category saw the biggest percentage improve- ment, up 32.9 percent to 2,280 units. The 126-250cc group rose 27.4 percent to 7,060 bikes, while the 50cc and under class grew 16.3 percent to 6,416 units. Production in the over 250cc category increased 10.1 percent to 41,632 motorcycles. Exports grew 3.2 percent overall for the Big Four, with Kawasaki again leading with the largest percentage increase, up 10.6 percent to 4,987 units. Yamaha exported 17,806 motorcycles, up 9.8 percent over March 2013, while Honda increased exports 8.8 percent to 11,996 bikes. Suzuki saw another decrease in the export category, with 10,271 units exported, a decrease of 13.8 percent. The total value of motorcy- cles exported was $394 million, a 14.9 percent drop from the year-ago-month. Exports to North America decreased 10.2 percent to 15,780 units, with the U.S. seeing a 14.1 percent drop to 13,553 bikes. PROTECTIVE'S ANDERSON PROMOTED Protective Asset Protection has announced the promotion of Bill Koster to vice president of sales – Specialty Products. In his new role, Koster assumes responsibility for sales and dis- tribution of the RV, marine and powersports lines of business. With Koster's expanded responsibilities, Wendell Ander- son has been promoted to the position of national sales man- ager – Specialty Products. Ander- son's new role provides him with sales leadership responsibilities for the RV, marine and power- sports industries. This change to Protective Asset Protection's sales and distribution team ensures the organization will continue its focus on exceeding the needs of agents, deal- ers and con- sumers. Rick Kurtz, senior vice pres- ident – Distribu- tion, Protective Asset Protection said, "Bill and Wendell bring decades of expe- rience to their new roles. Their proven ability to lead distribution and training efforts makes them a perfect fit to continue our commit- ment to our customers in these important industries." Protective Asset Protection provides vehicle protection plans, GAP, and credit insurance through dealerships and finan- cial institutions. Protective Asset Protection has been serving dealers for more than 50 years and cur- rently provides products and services to over 8,000 automo- bile, marine, RV and power- sports dealers. DORMAN NAMED VP Jim Dorman, formerly vice president of sales and market- ing at Erik Buell Racing in East Troy, Wis., has been named VP of business development for Reedsburg, Wis.-based Colum- bia ParCar Corp. Dorman brings more than 25 years of experience in consumer and industrial products, distri- bution channel development, global market- ing as well as product and strategic busi- ness planning. Most recently Dorman built a domestic and international dealer distribution channel for EBR. "We are delighted to have a professional with Jim's experi- ence join Columbia," said Todd Sauey, Columbia's board chair- man. "He also brings the pas- sion and entrepreneurial vision needed to help us achieve our growth plans." Dorman's first priority at Columbia will be to develop an extensive and strong dealer distribution network for Colum- bia's line of electric powered, Low Speed Vehicles (LSV). "Jim's experience will be invaluable as we develop a first- class dealer network through which our current and brand new LSV models will be sold," said Scott Breckley, Colum- bia's chief operating officer. Columbia recently announced the release of their new Low Speed Vehicle. PSB Cedar Park, Texas-based Fallbrook Technologies Inc., inventor of the NuVinci continuously variable planetary (CVP) transmis- sion technology, and Bagley, Minn.-based TEAM Industries announced plans this month for the near-term commercialization of NuVinci technology in a transmission suitable for a small, low- to medium-speed vehicle. Initial production units should be avail- able by the end of 2015 or early 2016. Fallbrook and TEAM have been working since 2011 to validate the benefits of the NuVinci technology for TEAM's products. In November 2012, the companies entered into an exclusive licensing agreement for the use of NuVinci CVP technology in North Amer- ica and Europe for electric and gasoline light vehicle applications. TEAM is the largest supplier of rubber belt continuously vari- able transmissions (CVTs) to the ATV, UTV, Low/Medium Speed Vehicle (LSV/MSV) and Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) markets, all of which are included in Fallbrook's license to TEAM. "A recently completed design project suggested that it was pos- sible to have a NuVinci-equipped commercial product available in a relatively short time frame," said Tony Passanante, senior director of strategic planning at TEAM. "We are eager to take advantage of the opportunity to have the first commercial NuVinci application avail- able in a powered vehicle outside of eBikes." Fallbrook and TEAM have revised and enhanced their licens- ing agreement including identifying specific development and sales targets as well as providing TEAM personnel access to addi- tional design tools from Fallbrook. "While the details of the updated licensing agreement are con- fidential," said William G. Klehm, III, Fallbrook's chairman and CEO, "we anticipate there will be other TEAM commercial prod- ucts incorporating NuVinci technology... ." FALLBROOK TECHNOLOGIES, TEAM INDUSTRIES PLAN LSV CVT FINANCIAL NEWS 9 ... Brain Gallmeier 9 ... April Same Store Sales 11 ... Wells Fargo covers BRP stock OPINION 12 ... From the Editor 12 ... Online at PowersportsBusiness.com PSB: FOCUS Tire & Wheel 14 ... ADP studies tire sales v. installation 15 ... Dealer adds nitrogen to offerings 18 ... ITP flourishes under new ownership MOTORCYCLE 27 ... Vectrix files for bankruptcy 27 ... Harley hires ex-General Motors exec 28 ... CycleTrader.com visits rise 29 ... KBB.com's top-searched '13 bikes 29 ... Students learn repair skills ATV 32 ... CFMOTO distributors ride in Australia SNOWMOBILE 33 ... AMSOIL introduces new online locator SOLUTIONS 34 ... Hal Ethington 35 ... Steve Jones AFTERMARKET 37 ... Nifty 50 winners show off awards POWER 50 38 ... Dealer hosts 3-Wheel Seminar 38 ... GM races in Thruxton Cup INSIDE CycleTrader.com offers live chat CycleTrader.com, a division of Dominion Enterprises, has partnered with Contact At Once! to offer live chat on dealership listings. In a pilot study, dealers' leads generated by the website have increased 60 percent. Live chat gives CycleTrader.com shoppers real-time contact with dealers, and a mobile- friendly alternative to making a phone call or filling out a lead form. That, said Skip Dowd, senior vice president of Automotive Solutions at Contact At Once!, helps account for the sig- nificant increases in shopper engagement. "The easier dealers make it for a shopper to ask questions, the more likely they are to ask. This gives dealers additional chances to pro- vide great service, personalize information and influence that purchase," said Dowd. "Instant messaging and mobile messaging continue to grow in convenience and popularity. Just look at your own phone and see how many texts you send vs. how many calls you make." Consumers visiting CycleTrader.com can chat live with any dealer who offers the live chat option in their ad listings. Dealers can receive and respond to chat leads through an app on their mobile device or desktop com- puter. Thanks to presence-aware technology that tracks dealer availability, the live chat feature will not be offered to consumers as an option if the dealer is unavailable. PSB BRP Inc. announced changes to its management team that were effective May 1. "BRP will soon be celebrating its first year as a public company and as we accelerate our global growth strategy, I am implementing changes designed to better leverage our strong product brands and global footprint," said José Boisjoli, president and CEO. "As part of these changes, I am pleased to announce new roles for Sébastien Martel and Chris Dawson, and to welcome Anne Bélec to BRP." Martel has been named chief financial officer, where he will be responsible for all corporate finance including consolidation and reporting, tax, treasury as well as for cor- porate communications, public affairs and investor relations. Martel was most recently vice president, Strategic Planning and Busi- ness Development, where he coordinated BRP's initial public offering process. Before that, he held increasing roles in the finance organization, including vice president, Finance and Controls. Martel has been with the company since 2004. Dawson is now vice president and general manager, Global Sales and Consumer Experience, where he will be responsible for global sales management, go-to-market activities, network devel- opment, customer relationship management, after-sales service and parts, accessories and clothing (PAC). His first mandate is to merge the North America and International divisions to capture synergy opportunities and continue BRP's focus on consumer experience. Dawson was most recently vice president and general manager, International division, where he significantly grew revenues from International over the past years. Before that, he held increasing roles in marketing, strategy and business development. Dawson has been with the company since 1998. BRP also announced the appointment of Anne Bélec to the newly created position of senior vice president, Global Marketing, Strategy and Information Systems. Bélec brings more than 25 years of business experience, primarily in the automotive industry. Through 2009, she held senior management positions in marketing, sales and product planning, and business development with the Ford Motor Com- pany. While at Ford, she was CEO of Volvo Cars of North America from 2005-08. In 2009, she joined Navistar International Corpora- tion as vice president, chief marketing officer. Most recently, Bélec was a consultant with Russell Reynolds and Associates. Claude Ferland, formerly vice president and chief financial officer, and Yves Leduc, vice president and general manager for North America, were in their positions until May 1, and will remain available to ensure a smooth transition until June 1. "Claude and Yves have both played a role in making BRP a leader in the powersports industry and their contribution to BRP's recent successful initial public offering was invaluable. I want to thank them for all the years of dedication to the organization and we all wish them well in their new endeavours," Boisjoli said. BRP makes executive changes BILL KOSTER WENDELL ANDERSON JIM DORMAN HOTNEWS CONTINUED FROM COVER Yves Leduc, vice president and general manager of North America, is moving on after 16 years at BRP. P01x08-PSB7-News.indd 3 5/14/14 2:01 PM