Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/422004
www.PowersportsBusiness.com ATV Powersports Business • December 1, 2014 • 23 HISUN MOTORS CORP. Chongqing Huansong (Hisun) is a major Chinese manufacturer of ATVs, UTVs and motorcycles with proprietary engines and the capability to manufacture most major com- ponents on its vehicles. Hisun opened a ser- vice center in Carrollton, Texas, in 2006. Last spring the company moved its operations to McKinney, Texas, where machines go through final assembly and testing before being shipped out to Hisun North American distributors. For 2015, Hisun is introducing all-new UTVs after phasing out the previous models for a new Sector utility series and Strike sport series offered in 450, 550, 750 and 1000cc models. The 1000cc Sector and Strike vehicles come with EFI, EPS, winch and windshield as standard. EPS is optional on the Sector 450, 550 and 750 models. Massimo, formerly SunL, is the largest dis- tributor of Hisun machines — largely due to its account with Tractor Supply. PUG UTILITY VEHICLES Remember the old Pug, the UTV with the pug nose and articulated rear dump bed? It was a vehicle that sold well back in the 1990s. Originated by The Chetech Company of Chetek, Wis., it was later sold to Yazoo/ Kees Power Equipment in 1999. Production was transferred to Jackson, Miss., where the company was renamed Pug Inc. The vehicle later morphed into the Badlands 4x4, but pro- duction was discontinued in 2004 when Pug went bankrupt. Now the vehicle has again been resur- rected, this time by Joe Crawford under a company named Frog Pond Mfg. Crawford acquired the name and design from Land- pride a while back and has spent a couple of years getting a facility in Somerset, Ky., up and running and component suppliers lined up. The new Pug will be powered by a 21-hp fuel-injected Kohler engine and have a 5-speed manual transmission. SUNRIGHT INTERNATIONAL Sunright, headquartered in Lawrenceville, Ga., has served as an importer of ATVs, UTVs and scooters from China for more than a decade. At the show, Sunright exhibited a new 700cc fuel-injected UTV, produced by Linhai, that is scheduled to become available by next spring. Ronald Ho, president of Sunright, said he was dually excited about the company's new 200 UTV (176cc), also produced by Lin- hai, with an MSRP of $3,999. A few contain- ers have already arrived. Indications are that he is looking for a major retailer to market this vehicle. KIOTI TRACTOR KIOTI is the trade name in North America and Europe for Daedong tractors. KIOTI has been selling the Daedong line of tractors in North America since 1993, and several years ago introduced the Mechron 2200 diesel utility vehicle. At the same time, Daedong also was producing a private label version for Cushman called the 1600XD. For 2015, Daedong's KIOTI brand is introducing a new Mechron 2200PS with power steering as standard, as well as the new four-passenger Mechron 2240. A pri- vate label version for Cushman called the 1600XD-4 is also available. GIE Expo took place at the Kentucky Inter- national Convention Center Oct. 22-24, with Dealer Day on Oct. 22 and open attendance on Oct. 23-24. Dave Crocker is a managing partner at Power Products Marketing, a Minneapolis-based com- pany offering detailed market share data and research services to original equipment manu- facturers (OEMs), component & aftermarket suppliers, associations and government agencies linked to the global power equipment industry. PSB Toro distributors and subsidiary Exmark dealers will be selling 500cc and 700cc utility vehicles in 2015. The October GIE+Expo included an indoor expo hall, as well as an outdoor area, where attendees could demo product, including UTVs.