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NEWS
BRIEFS
The latest European registration data from Brussels based ACEM , for January to September 2020 , shows motorcycle sales in the five largest European markets ( France , Germany , Italy , Spain , and UK - about 80 % of the Europe total ) reached 708,503 units - down by -3.3 % in the first nine months of 2019 . However , the intraannual trend data is positive with the first six months down by - 17 % in comparison .
Electric motorcycle registrations in Europe ' s ' Big Five ' markets are up by + 75.7 % for the January to September 2020 period at 13,897 units from 7,909 for the first nine months of 2019 .
California based suspension specialist Storz Performance is celebrating its 40th anniversary . Best known for Ceriani brand USD front ends and steering dampers , owner Steve Storz is the universal ' Go To ' for classy Sportster conversions and components for Big Twins , V-Rods and Dynas - anything that helps it go quick and stay on the road !
The MIC is reporting a newmodel sales increase for the third quarter of this year . Yearto-date sales of new motorcycles and scooters through September increased + 10.2 percent compared to the same period in 2019 .
Custombike Show , scheduled to take place at Bad Salzuflen , Germany on 4-6 December has been cancelled due to the worsening COVID-19 across Europe . The 2021 show will take place on 3-5 December .
Polaris Q3 U . S Retail Growth of + 15 % Drives Dealer Inventory Lower
Polaris has reported Q3 sales + 10 % at $ 1,955m , with net income of $ 167m /$ 2.66 per diluted share . Retail demand is reported as remaining strong " benefiting company performance as both new and existing customers continued taking advantage of off-road vehicles , snowmobiles , motorcycles and boats to enjoy the outdoors while maintaining social distancing etiquette ." Gross profit was + 22 % ( to $ 535m for Q3 ) with reported gross profit margin at 27.3 %, " primarily driven by positive
Polaris Chairman and CEO Scott Wine : " Demand has remained strong as Q4 started and we expect our sales and earnings momentum to continue for the rest of the year . This pushes our expectations for overall company performance to exceed our pre-COVID-19 targets for 2020 ."
product mix and lower promotional costs ." Operating expenses decreased -4 % to $ 313m - " Operating expenses were lower primarily due to the company ' s ongoing cautionary approach to spending given the pandemic-generated economic uncertainty ." Motorcycles segment sales , including PG & A , totaled $ 167m , up
+ 11 %, driven primarily from increased sales of Slingshot and PG & A . Gross motorcycle sector profit for Q3 was $ 16m compared to $ 9m for 2019 Q3 . " The increase in gross profit margin was driven by a decrease in promotional costs and lower European Union retaliatory tariffs as more motorcycles were produced in the Poland manufacturing facility for the region ." North American consumer retail sales for Indian Motorcycle increased in the low-forty percent range during the third quarter of 2020 ( mid-forty percent range when Slingshot units are factored in ) in a weak mid to heavy-weight two-wheel motorcycle industry that was down lowsingle digits percent ( the U . S . market is stated by Polaris to have been up lowsingle digits percent for Q3 when three-wheel vehicles are included ). Polaris Chairman and CEO Scott Wine is quoted as saying : " Our continued strength in the third quarter reflected the broad-based consumer demand for our industry-leading powersports products and tremendous execution by our Polaris team and dealers . " Their focus and determination enabled Polaris to generate double-digit sales increases in ORV , Motorcycles and Boats , which were somewhat limited by supply chain capacity constraints . I am extremely proud of the diligent and efficient efforts of our team to mitigate these supplier disruptions and drive a three-year high in quarterly gross profit margins . " Demand has remained strong as Q4 started and we expect our sales and earnings momentum to continue for the rest of the year . This pushes our expectations for overall company performance to exceed our pre- COVID-19 targets for 2020 - demonstrating our confidence in the team to accelerate production as we manage through continued challenges . " Thanks to the dedication , innovation and customer-centric work of our entire Polaris team , whom we are working relentlessly to keep safe , we are realizing tremendous progress from our strategic investments in supply chain and digital transformation , electrification and breakthrough product development programs . I am very optimistic about the future growth and profitability prospects for Polaris and our stakeholders ." Off-Road Vehicles (“ ORV ”) and Snowmobiles segment sales ,
motorcycle segment sales + 11 %
including PG & A , totaled $ 1,289m for the third quarter of 2020 , + 12 %, " driven by broad based strength across ATV and side-by-side sales ." Q3 ORV wholegood sales were + 13 %. " Polaris North American ORV retail sales increased low-double digits percent for the quarter , with both side-by-side vehicles and ATV vehicles up low-double digits percent . The North American ORV industry was up low-twenties percent compared to Q3 2019 ." Q3 Snowmobile wholegood sales were -34 % at $ 70m .
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