Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/360137
www.PowersportsBusiness.com MOTORCYCLE Powersports Business • August 11, 2014 • 27 RK: This time of year, when they are begin- ning to dial back their inventory levels, dealers tend to prefer cleaner, lower-mileage units. As a result, we saw the price gap between clean and rough units increase somewhat. 2014 Harley- Davidsons are still popular right now, as were the handful of 2014 Indian motorcycles we had on hand. The Western market still has a strong appetite for ATVs, PWCs and clean motocross bikes as well. PSB: How has pre-owned wholesale financ- ing changed the way dealers can grow their inventory via auction buys? Is there an aver- age percentage of how much of their total purchased is done via financing? RK: Wholesale financing definitely plays a big part in a dealer's success. Some of the wholesale lenders we work with even have 100 percent advance rates for vehicles bought exclusively at NPA. Franchise deal- ers have wholesale credit readily available to them if they choose to use it. Wholesale financing for independent dealers is still more challenging. That's one of the rea- sons we offer our private-label NPA Dealer Financing program, so that non-franchise can have similar purchasing power at auc- tion. I think one of the biggest, yet underuti- lized benefits of wholesale financing is the ability to floor bikes purchased off the street. With over 1 million powersport vehicles being sold each year through private parties, this gives dealers a great opportunity to start driving those transactions through their own doors. PSB NPA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26 The American International Motorcycle Expo (AIMExpo) welcomes a new OEM partner to the 2014 event this Oct. 16-19 in Orlando as Zero Motorcycles, maker of high performance electric motorcycles, will be exhibiting and hosting its 2015 Dealer Con- vention at AIMExpo. Zero's assessment of last year's inaugural AIMExpo led the company to the conclusion that the groundbreaking event provides the ideal platform to showcase its innovative product line in North America. AIMExpo is the only powersports event in the United States to bring together trade, media and con- sumers all at one time and in one place. "The electric motorcycle segment is still very new and is constantly evolving. Because of that, we are always searching for ways to ensure Zero stands as the pre-emi- nent global electric motorcycle company," said Scot Harden, VP of Global Market- ing. "During our evaluation of AIMExpo it became clear this event presents the ideal means for us to both showcase our products to the North American marketplace, and to interact directly with dealers, journal- ists and the riders who will help our brand continue to grow. Bringing our Dealer Con- vention to AIMExpo makes perfect business sense for us." Currently, Zero offers both on-road and off-road options, with a total of four different models. With the company's commitment to showcase its model line to the North Ameri- can marketplace at AIMExpo, the product lineup is sure to evolve even further. "The privilege of welcoming such a ground-breaking company that sits at the forefront of the future of motorcycling is significant to the continued evolution of AIMExpo," said Larry Little, vice president and general manager, Motorcycle Group. "One of the primary objectives of AIMExpo is to showcase new, emerging and green tech- nology, and Zero certainly represents those categories. We are delighted to add another major OEM to the event and look forward to show attendees learning a lot more about their tremendously innovative products. Zero recognized that AIMExpo represents the best way to reach every facet of the pow- ersports marketplace, and we're confident their presence will enhance AIMExpo." PSB Zero to host dealers at AIMExpo (From left) Market/data analysts Brett Boyer and Alex Lezama from NADA Guides and NPA marketing director Ryan Keefe prepared for the San Diego auction.