International Dealer News IDN 147 February/March 2019 | Page 14

news ROOM
BMW Motorrad - 2018 sees
BRIEFS eighth all-time sales high
in succession
NEWS
Italian suspension manufacturer
Bitubo’s nitrogen gas pressurised
CLU rear monoshock features
completely serviceable hydraulic
spring pre-load, length, rebound
and high/low compression
adjustment.
Indian Motorcycle has announced it is
to accelerate the July 2018 announced
plan to manufacture Scout models for
Europe at its Polaris ATV/UTV facility in
Poland. The intention is to “reduce the
impact of the retaliatory tariffs on
motorcycles imposed by the EU in
response to the Trump administration’s
aluminium and steel tariffs.” The facility
in Poland will assemble CKD kits
(Complete Knock Down) shipped there
from its Spirit Lake, Iowa motorcycle
manufacturing and assembly factory.
Harley has confirmed that it will
build its European models at the
factory it commissioned in Q3 in
Thailand. Further expansion of
the initial build is to take place.
Italian suspension specialist Andreani
has updated its popular Misano fork
cartridge. The EVO cartridge features a
20 mm piston with increased oil
passages and adjustable compression,
rebound and spring preload. Over 150
naked, street, sport and custom bike
applications are available.
PBR’s C45 tempered steel
sprocket kits include EK Chain
and an RSS front sprocket with
rubber injected into its holes for
“exceptional smoothness and
noise suppression”.
Sifam Motorcycle Parts is offering
dealers access to a programme of
Kyoto high-performance lead acid
batteries and ElecThium Li-ion batteries
with “Connect and Forget” universal
application (12V, S.L.A, lead and
A.G.M) chargers available.
BMW Motorrad says it sold more
motorcycles and maxi scooters in
2018 than ever before. Compared to
2017 deliveries increased by a further
+0.9%. As of December 2018, a total
of 165,566 vehicles were delivered to
customers (164,153 units in 2017).
Dr. Markus Schramm, Head of BMW
Motorrad, said that “2018 was
another very successful year. We
achieved a sales record for the eighth
time in succession. I would like to
thank our customers most sincerely
for the great trust they placed in us
again in 2018”.
The company says this marks another
step “towards reaching the planned
sales target of 200,000 units in the
year 2020. Schramm went on to say
that “the 2018 sales figure shows
that our motorcycle growth strategy
is taking effect. This success was
achieved due to the market launch of
six new models as well as the
powerful BMW Motorrad product
portfolio, and we still have a great
deal planned for the coming years.
“Our ongoing model initiative in the
premium segment continues - we will
further expand our product range
with emotional and innovative new
products in 2019, too. We will also be
increasing our involvement in
motorsport significantly”. In the
2019 season, the new BMW
Motorrad WorldSBK Team will be
lining up from the start with the BMW
S 1000 RR.
With 23,824 units, Germany was the
largest single market for BMW
Motorrad again, but “the good
performances in the other big
European markets and in the US were
also a major cornerstone for these
successful sales figures”. BMW’s
most important markets in 2018 were