Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/499779
www.PowersportsBusiness.com ATV/UTV Powersports Business • May 4, 2015 • 27 inventory or excess inventory; we can make changes much more rapidly." Currently, Suzuki's engine parts are sourced from Japan, but the company plans to make local sourcing its pri- mary goal of 2015. As Suzuki sources more parts, more jobs will become available, to not only vendors but also in-house at Suzuki Manu- facturing, says Lopusnak. "The biggest effect is now locally we're able to go out and look for engine vendors and source all of these parts," Lopusnak said. "Our number one target [for 2015] is to con- tinue to source product. Then of course, continue to work with Suzuki Japan to continue devel- oping new products." PSB The SMAI facility in Rome, Ga., has produced more than 400,000 KingQuad ATVs for worldwide distribution. The 2015 KingQuad 750AXi Power Steering in Camo is part of the Rome, Ga., lineup. A CELEBRITY-FILLED 14TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION When opened in 2001, the Suzuki Manu- facturing of America Corporation (SMAC) created hundreds of jobs in Rome, Ga., to assemble Suzuki's 400cc and 500cc ATVs. Now celebrating 14 years of ATV assem- bly, the facility today has expanded to cover more than 130,000 square feet on a 35-acre site in the suburb northwest of Atlanta. Workers there now handle metal fabrication, injection molding and engine assembly in the process of assembling Suzuki's complete line of award-winning KingQuad ATVs. "The SMAC facility has produced over 400,000 ATVs that have been distributed not only here in the U.S., but also to our Suzuki distribution partners around the world," said Rod Lopusnak, director and operations head for motorcycle/ATV sales operations. To commemorate the special anniversary, Ricky Carmichael and Carey Hart, leaders of the RCH Soaring Eagle/Jimmy Johns/Suzuki Factory Racing Supercross team, toured the facility with the Fox Sports 1 TV crew lead- ing up to the February AMA Supercross race in nearby Atlanta. Carmichael, multi-time Supercross champ and Suzuki rider, joined Hart in cutting the 14th anniversary cake. He and Hart also spent time with the SMAC employees in celebration of the event, and the two signed autographs at the facility. The SMAC facility's recent addition of engine assembly makes Suzuki even more responsive to the needs of its dealers and customers in 52 countries around the world. The expansion also adds manufacturing jobs in this northwest Georgia town, and reaffirms Suzuki's com- mitment to assembling KingQuad ATVs in the U.S. Ricky Carmichael (left) and Carey Hart (center), leaders of the RCH Soaring Eagle/Jimmy Johns/ Suzuki Factory Racing Super- cross team, with Rod Lopusnak, director and operations head for motorcycle/ATV sales at the Suzuki Manufacturing of America Corporation facility in Rome, Ga. responsive to the needs of its dealers and customers in 52 countries around the world. The expansion also adds manufacturing jobs in this northwest Georgia town, and reaffirms Suzuki's com- mitment to assembling KingQuad ATVs in the U.S. Ricky Carmichael (left) and Carey Hart (center), leaders of the RCH Soaring Eagle/Jimmy Johns/ Suzuki Factory Racing Super- cross team, with Rod Lopusnak, director and operations head for motorcycle/ATV sales at the Suzuki Manufacturing of