Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/752766
www.PowersportsBusiness.com NEWS Powersports Business • November 28, 2016 • 3 HOTNEWS CONTINUED FROM COVER allowing us to better understand and fulfill their needs." The new program provides an easy to use application pro- cess and instant approvals to qualifying customers when they are considering a new purchase, and the revolving line of credit provided by the card translates to repeat purchases. YMFUS is supporting the card with low, attractive special financing pro- motions and expects the new program to serve as the primary financing source for many of Yamaha's products, including motorcycles, ATVs, side-by-side vehicles and PWC. "Offering a long-term solu- tion for a credit card program was critical to maintaining our leadership position in the pow- ersports lending industry by providing Yamaha dealers and customers the most complete array of financing solutions," said Jeff Young, executive vice president and COO of YMFUS. "This highly innovative solu- tion not only provides program continuity, it also gives our dealers and customers the certainty of a Yamaha-backed program. Yamaha's capital supports it and Yamaha man- ages it — that's a very different model than the previous bank- managed program." YMUS launched Yamaha Motor Finance last year to ini- tially focus on first-time and limited credit buyers, enabling its dealers to expand its business in a segment underserved by traditional banks and lenders. This new credit card program will allow Yamaha Motor Finance to expand its focus to prime consumers and take over a program that has provided financing solutions to more than 1 million customers. Yamaha Motor Finance has expanded its staff at its head- quarters in Cypress, California, to manage the new program. The credit cards will be issued by WebBank. BMW MOTORRAD WORLDWIDE SALES INCREASE IN Q3 The BMW Group continued to chart a course of profitable growth in the third quarter 2016. The Motorcycles seg- ment continues to perform well. Worldwide sales of BMW motorcycles and maxi-scoot- ers during the three-month period from July to September totaled 35,290 units, 3.8 per- cent more than the previous year. Third-quarter segment revenues amounted to €451 million (2015: €454 million; -0.7 percent). Earnings were also down on the previous year, mainly due to expenses incurred during the startup phase of a number of projects connected with implementing BMW Motorrad's new strategy. EBIT came in at €32 million (2015: €46 million; -30.4 percent), while profit before tax also finished at €32 mil- lion (2015: €45 million; -28.9 percent). The segment delivered 116,044 (2015: 112,411) motorcycles and maxi-scooters to customers during the first nine months of the year, an increase of 3.2 percent com- pared to the previous year. At €1,650 million, segment revenues were similar to the previous year (2015: €1,643 million: +0.4 percent). EBIT amounted to €224 million (2015: €273 million; -17.9 BRP has expanded its line of Can-Am Defender utility-recre- ational off-road vehicles with the launch of the new Defender HD5 side-by-side vehicle. The Defender platform is now available with a mid-size engine, offering both value and performance while maintaining the Defender vehicle's highly touted tough, capable and clever design. "The 2017 Can-Am Defender HD5 side-by-side vehicle provides full-size functionality and unmatched versatility at an attractive price point," explained Marc-André Dubois, global marketing director, Can-Am Off-Road. "This addition of the handy Defender HD5 packages helps us expand the Defender family lineup to meet market demand and also grow the Can-Am footprint in the highly popular utility-recreation seg- ment of the industry." The HD5 starts at $9,999. CAN-AM ADDS MID-RANGE DEFENDER TO LINEUP NEWS 6 ... Guest column: Statistically Speaking FINANCIAL NEWS 8 ... Polaris reports Q3 results 8 ... Dealer Financial Snapshot 9 ... Synchrony, CFMOTO partnership OPINION 11 ... From the Editor 11 ... Online at PowersportsBusiness.com PSB: FOCUS Made in the USA 14 ... Spectro Oils' top-notch promise 15 ... British Customs unveils Pro Series 16 ... JIMS releases tools for Indian bikes 17 ... Honda Africa Twin brakes by AltRider ATV/UTV 19 ... Arctic Cat sales drop in Q2 20 ... Bad Boy offers free accessories AFTERMARKET 28 ... WPS to distribute Alpinestars product 29 ... Hot Products SOLUTIONS 30 ... Mark Mooney 31 ... Sam Dantzler 32 ... Guest column: Glenice Wilder SNOWMOBILE 33 ... Snow Goer honors Ski-Doo sled 33 ... Top 10 Snowmobiles of 2017 POWER 50 34 ... Dealership promotes giving back INSIDE Hurst joins Curtis Industries as manager Curtis Industries, a manufacturer of cab enclo- sures, attachments and accessories for com- pact vehicles, has appointed Deven Hurst to the newly created position of product research and innovation manager. Hurst will be responsible for the conception and refinement of new and innovative technol- ogies and products that can be practically and competitively commercialized to support and extend the company's core offerings. He brings more than 30 years of progressive experience in power equipment and technical support. "We are excited to have Deven join our team," said Gabor Hajos, vice president of opera- tions. "He brings unique experience in new prod- u c t i n n o v a t i o n a n d development to Curtis, and he shares our focus on innovation and growth. He has a history of proven success in new product development and launch throughout his career which will enable us to continue to lead our industry by getting new products our customers want to market faster than our competition." Hurst most recently was president and CEO of LP Conversions, a business that supported a John Deere OEM program. PSB Christini wins U.S. military motorcycle contract Christini Technologies Inc. (CTI) announces the awarding of a con- tract from the U.S. Air Force for the delivery of 54 Christini All Wheel Drive 450E Military Edition motorcycles. The award was the result of an open bidding process. Christini had previously deliv- ered all wheel drive motorcycles to the U.S. Navy, U.S. Border Patrol, UK military, UAE, Jor- dan and other NATO forces. Steve Christini, CEO of CTI commented: "After rigorous test- ing and evaluation of our all wheel drive motorcycles by many different military units, Christini Technologies has emerged as the manufacturer providing the technology and capabilities required by the U.S. Special Forces. This significant Air Force order vali- dates the safety and performance benefits our AWD motorcycle technology provides to riders of all skill levels. The USAF had other options in conventional rear wheel drive machines, how- ever, our AWD motorcycle better fit their needs for a safer and more capable motorcycle under the toughest of conditions. We are pleased to be able to offer a technology that will help accomplish the USAF missions and look forward to continuing to grow our sales and presence as a preferred provider for the U.S. military." Christini AWD is partnering with Tactical Mobility Training (TMT) of Fayetteville, North Carolina, for the off-road motor- cycle training as well as maintenance training for the USAF. Over the past 10 years, TMT has trained SOF forces of the military for troops deploying to Afghanistan, Africa and the Middle East using a wide range of mobility equipment. To properly train our military, TMT sought to identify a platform that could traverse the same paths as horses and personnel; motorcycles were an obvi- ous choice. After significant testing, and more than 200 troops riding the Christini AWD machines, TMT partnered with CTI to field a military grade motorcycle that was safer and more capable. The result is a specialized training program that takes personnel through flat, sandy, urban and mountainous terrain to prove that motorcycles are a game-changer on the battlefield. percent), while profit before tax finished at €223 million (2015: €271 million; -17.7%). ARI NETWORK SERVICES ACQUIRES AUCTION123 ARI Network Services, Inc. announced that it has acquired Auction123, Inc., a leading pro- vider of software and services to help dealers in selected vertical markets manage and feed inven- tory information to online mar- ketplaces to drive more sales and leads. Auction123 serves several vertical markets including auto- motive, powersports, recreational vehicles and marine. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. "The acquisition of Auc- tion123 will accelerate ARI's growth in our existing vertical markets, introduces ARI into the automotive dealer market and is consistent with our strat- egy to grow the business both organically and through strategic acquisitions," said ARI president and CEO Roy W. Olivier. "We are excited about the opportu- nity to cross-sell our other prod- ucts into Auction123's base of more than 1,200 dealers." Founded in 2001, Auction123 has been a leader in online marketing solutions, inven- tory management and website development solutions for deal- ers in selected vertical markets. Its award-winning web-based software offers tight and seamless integration between the dealer management system (DMS), the dealer's website, eBay Motors, Craigslist, Facebook and other third-party classified websites. Auction123 will maintain its headquarters in Weston, Florida. "We expect the Auction123 acquisition to generate incre- mental revenue of more than $3 million for the remainder of our fiscal 2017 and be accretive to adjusted EBITDA," said ARI CFO William A. Nurthen. HARLEY-DAVIDSON DEALERSHIP IN CALIFORNIA SOLD Joseph Guidera, owner and operator of Guidera's Harley- Davidson in Yuba City, Califor- nia, for the past 25 years, has DEVEN HURST See Hot News, Page 6 Christini Technologies was awarded a contract to deliver 54 of its motor- cycles to the U.S. Air Force. Can-Am's new Defender HD5 has double A-arm front suspension and unique Torsional Trailing A-arm (TTA-HD) rear suspension.