American Motorcycle Dealer AMD 220 November 2017 | Page 64

NEWS Indian Q3 unit sales +16 percent in a
down market; Slingshot sales down
With a year to go before the 13th
AMD World Championship of
Custom Bike Building is staged at
INTERMOT ‘Customized’ in October
2018, advance entries have already
broken through the 40 mark, with
competitors signed up from some
nine different countries already. Polaris Industries Inc. has
reported third quarter 2017
sales of $1,478.7 million, up +25
percent from $1,185.1 million
for the third quarter of 2016.
Adjusted sales, which excludes
the impact from Victory
Motorcycles net sales for the
third quarter of 2017, were
$1,480.3 million for the 2017
third quarter, up +25 percent.
Scott Wine, Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of Polaris Industries,
said: “Our emphatic return to
profitable growth in the third quarter
was a testament to the power of the
BRIEFS
Royce Rath, one of the people
injured when a race-modified
Indian motorcycle that was
being ridden on stage by
Roland Sands at the Buffalo
Chip (Sturgis Rally in 2016),
has filed suit against Sands,
Indian Motorcycle owner
Polaris Industries and Buffalo
Chip Campground LLC, having
suffered permanent disability,
medical expenses and the loss
of wages and earning
capacity.
Indian Motorcycles’ exceptional
performance as they accelerated
share gains and outpaced a declining
North American motorcycle market,
while also delivering strong growth in
Europe, Australia and Asia.
“I am particularly proud of the
improved performance from our Off-
Road Vehicle business, which was
fueled by a well-planned and
executed factory authorized clearance
sale and the strong reception of our
model year 2018 introductions.
Encouragingly, RZR retail sales were
especially strong in the quarter, and
we had our best ATV retail quarter in
two years.
“Most importantly, strong total
company sales growth translated to
bottom-line improvement. Despite
higher than expected costs for
warranty and re-work and
complications from Hurricanes Harvey
and Irma, we delivered significant
operating profit growth and earnings
per share expansion for the quarter.
With strong growth in revenue,
profitability and cash flow, I feel very
good about the performance of the
Polaris team and our improved
“Indian Motorcycles’ exceptional performance as they accelerated share gains and
outpaced a declining North American motorcycle market while also delivering
strong growth in Europe, Australia and Asia”
Bosch claims that V-2-V technology
has the potential to prevent one-
third of motorcycle accidents –
incidents where the car driver
didn’t see the motorcycle or vice
versa.
A unique offering will take
place in Las Vegas on January
27, 2018. The iconic Excelsior-
Henderson brand and all its
intellectual property will be
auctioned at the 27th annual
Mecum Las Vegas Motorcycle
Auction at the South Point
Hotel and Casino. Included in
this purchase are the
ownership of the Excelsior-
Henderson brand name, 10
federally registered
trademarks, web domains,
previous motorcycle frame
and engine designs, as well as
18 expired patents that can
only be effectively exploited
by the owner of Excelsior-
Henderson.
64
Polaris brand, the strength of our
dealer network and the competitive
drive of the Polaris team. During the
quarter, strong retail growth in both
North America and nearly all of our
international markets drove record
sales and highlighted our ongoing
product innovation, improving
product quality and sharpened
execution.
“We delivered North American unit
retail sales growth of +13 percent and
overall company sales growth of +25
percent, about half of which was
organic, while lowering North
American dealer inventory seven
percent year-over-year. Results were
strong throughout our portfolio, led by
AMERICAN MOTORCYCLE DEALER - NOVEMBER 2017
Polaris CEO Scott Wine said: “Our
emphatic return to profitable
growth in the third quarter was a
testament to the power of the
Polaris Brand”
outlook for the fourth quarter and
beyond,” said Wine.
Motorcycle segment sales, including
PG&A, totaled $155.1 million, a
decrease of -14 percent compared to
$181.2 million reported in the third
quarter of 2016, which included
$39.4 million of Victory Motorcycle
wholegood, accessory and apparel
sales. Indian motorcycle wholegood
sales increased in the low twenty
percent range in the third quarter
driven by new product introductions
and improving brand awareness. This
increase somewhat offset lower
Slingshot sales. Gross profit for the
Continues on page 8 >>>
www.AMDchampionship.com