Among the initiatives embraced in the past two years , Tucker ' s decision to get into the burgeoning EV market may prove to have been one of the biggest opportunities for expansion . At AIMExpo , Tucker announced a " dramatic expansion of its industryleading portfolio of ePower products with the addition of new Fantic e- bicycles , UBCO utility e-bikes , Evolve electric skateboards , additional models of e-scooters from Dualtron , Speedway , and underwater scooters from Jet Pilot . " The company ' s offering of e-vehicles
' training and operational change requirements '
and accessories was launched in early 2021 and has had overwhelming acceptance by forward-looking retailers from throughout the United States ." The expansion of the program includes the addition of three additional e-bike models from legendary and resurgent Italian off-road motorcycle manufacturer Fantic - including mountain bikes , a commuter e-bike and the revolutionary Issimo , a stepthrough e-bike that has won design awards across Europe , featuring 20 ” fat tires , mid-motor and front suspension . A line of UBCO utility e-bikes features two-wheel drive and built-in
Interviewed at AIMExpo by Dealernews ' Robin Hartfiel , CEO , President and former H-D executive Marc McAllister addressed the issue of electrification and the business opportunity it represents for the market ' s dealers head-on . " Is it the ' next big thing '? We do not regard the decision to carry ePower products as an either or for any kind of dealership . It is an additional business opportunity and sits alongside products for internal combustion engine [ ICE ] motorcycles and their riders . " We need to see the market get to a position of maturity in ePower terms , and that will take at least a decade , in which some [ vendors and brands ] will come and go . We are very happy with the partners we have been able to select . Manufacturers such as UBCO , Fantic , Dualtron and Speedway are components which make them suitable for everything from work , hunting and outdoors , to commuting and family travel . All UBCO bikes have
quality businesses who will stand the test of time . " In the case of UBCO , we are seeing the benefits of new technology . The idea of all-wheel drive has been with us for years , but UBCO ' s in-hub motors are finally making it an accessible idea , one that gives UBCO access to new engineering and to all-new thinking about platform architecture ." Asked about his take on whether
getting involved in sectors such as eBikes [' Pedelecs ' etc ] sees the powersports industry encroaching on the sectors traditionally dominated by independent bicycle dealers ( IBD ), McAllister doesn ' t see it as a battle for dominance between sectors , he sees it embedded tech that allows over-theair updates to the bike via a smartphone app . Tucker ' s e-skateboard line-up adds seven new premium boards from Evolve , including its Carbon GTR , Bamboo GTR and Stoke series . Each series features a dramatic look and both GTR series include both off-road and street models . Described as " the ultimate accessory
for a scuba diver or snorkeler ," Tucker has added three models of underwater scooters to its ePower and Water portfolios . The Yamaha Explorer ,
as a symptom of wider market changes . " Bicycles , motorcycles , scooters , UTV segments are all merging together . Whereas the motorcycle and bicycle markets went their own ways 40-50 years ago , the market is now changing again with dealers needing to be more
Yamaha Sea Wing II and Yamaha RDS250 are licensed products manufactured by Jet Pilot . Tucker has also added new e-scooters from its current suppliers , Dualtron and Speedway . Jamie Kempinski , Tucker ' s Director of Business Development , says that the company " recognizes that a dealer ' s addition of e-bikes and scooters to its business doesn ' t come without questions . The training and operational change requirements can be significant , so we have also launched a training series specifically designed to help dealers add ePower
items to their business operations . " The education program will assist employees in understanding the products and working with customers that may be new to the dealership and to ePower products . The training is part of a redesigned Tucker University , an online portal that is available to all Tucker dealers and their staff . " Electric products are a part of our future and they deserve a place alongside a dealership ' s current product offering . Our growing line-up of ePower products , our online training tools and our knowledgeable field sales team make us a great partner for dealers preparing for an electric future ." www . tucker . com
Marc McAllister on eMarket Dealer Opportunities
' dealers need to be more fluid '
' all-wheel drive '
Marc McAllister , CEO & President of Tucker
Powersports
fluid and participating in as many of the available sectors as possible . " There is no more black and white - the lines between market segments are going grey . Consumers are changing their buying habits , so retailers need to track them and deliver what they are looking for ."
26 AFTERMARKET MOTO DESIGN - MAY 2022 www . AMDchampionship . com