American Motorcycle Dealer AMD 244 November 2019 | Page 22

MIC Says 100% Tariffs on EU
BRIEFS Powersports Products Defeated
NEWS
Delaware, USA based Global
Market Insights, Inc., has stated
that the "worldwide battery
electric vehicles market was
valued at US $150 billion in
2018 and will surpass US $425
billion by 2025 - an annual
growth rate of 16% from 2019
to 2025."
In further signs of the global
corporate re-alignment
taking place as the
automotive industry
eyes an electric
future, fierce rivals
BMW Group and
Daimler AG (Mercedes-
Benz) have embarked on a long-term
development cooperation for
automated driving. The initial goal is
to "develop technologies for driver
assistance systems, highly automated
driving on highways, and automated
parking (all up to SAE Level 4)" with
market launch in series production
vehicles scheduled for 2024.
Swedish apparel specialist
Jofama has sold its Halvarssons
and Lindstrands brands. They
have been designing "versatile
riding apparel for motorbike
riding: jackets, trousers,
underwear, footwear, bags and
gloves" for 70 years.
Zero Motorcycles, the world's leading
manufacturer of full-sized all-electric
motorcycles, has beaten off stiff
competition to win the title of
'Motorcycle News (MCN) Electric
Bike of the Year' in the UK. Judges
called the SR/F "the genesis of a new
generation of electric bikes", adding
"it is a real-life road bike that works,
not some long-promised unicorn."
The SR/F features the new Zero Z-
Force motor that delivers 190 Nm of
torque and a top speed of 124 mph
from a 14.4 kWh battery.
Harley-Davidson is the latest
Powered Two-Wheeler (PTW)
manufacturer to join BMW,
Ducati, Kawasaki, Kymco,
Suzuki, Triumph and Yamaha as
a participant in the MCIA
SECURED anti-theft initiative in
the UK. The scheme gives
motorcycle buyers important
information about standard fit
security items by allowing them
to make accurate comparisons
between models of interest.
Every Harley model has been
given a four-star rating.
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The MIC (Irvine, California) says that
proposed tariffs of up to 100% on
motorcycles, parts and accessories
going into the USA from European
Union countries have been "staved
off" following efforts by the MIC's
Government Relations Office and
some key member manufacturers.
"Representatives from member
companies KTM and Indian
Motorcycle, and MIC staff, made the
case against the proposed tariffs,
testifying this summer at hearings in
Washington, D.C., and holding
meetings with key staff at the Office of
the United States Trade
Representative. The MIC, along with
motorcycle-manufacturing member
companies Cobra, Ducati, Indian
Motorcycle and KTM, also submitted
written comments to the USTR
opposing these tariffs.
"In a show of transcontinental
industry support, ACEM, the European
Association of Motorcycle
Manufacturers, also submitted written
arguments against the proposed
tariffs [as did many European vendors
such as Zodiac International and AMD
Erik Pritchard, MIC President and
CEO: "The tariffs would have meant
extremely high prices for our
American consumers of European
motorcycles, parts and accessories."
Magazine]. The tariffs would have
greatly affected the powersports
business and came about as part of a
dispute regarding certain EU countries
subsidizing their large-aircraft
manufacturing sector.
"We have been actively engaged in
this dispute from day one, both in
Washington, D.C., and also in Europe,
to protect our dealers, support the
motorcycle industry and allow our
customers to continue to ride and
experience motorcycling," said John
Hinz, CEO of KTM North America. "Our
brands and dealers have been
operating in the United States for over
fifty years and it is our responsibility to
protect and grow the future of
motorcycling. We commend the
USTR's recognition of the negative
impact that the proposed tariffs would
have had on our U.S. business,
partners, dealers and customers."
"Had the tariffs been enacted, that
would have meant extremely high
prices for our American consumers of
European motorcycles, parts and
accessories," said Erik Pritchard,
incoming MIC President and CEO.
"Increased costs would have even
discouraged motorcycle riders from
performing routine but critical
maintenance, such as brake pad and
tire replacements, due to potential
doubling on the price of parts."
AHDRA Back on Track in 2020
Tim Hailey reports that there's
good news for drag racers of
American-made V-Twin
motorcycles. AHDRA has been
purchased by Pulse Marketing, a
Pennsylvania-based motorsports
promotion company run by
veteran drag racer Bill Rowe Jr.
and family.
AHDRA was THE place to drag
race Harley-Davidsons in the
2000s, with racers criss-crossing
the country with the fully-
sponsored, well-marketed series
run by Craig Tharpe. "We want
to thank Craig for trusting us to
take the AHDRA over," said
Rowe Jr.
AHDRA's last season was 2012,
but Pulse says they will have
the series up and running with
somewhere between six to
eight races in 2020, with Sturgis
likely the only race west of the
Mississippi.
AMERICAN MOTORCYCLE DEALER - NOVEMBER 2019
"We want people to know we're
here and we're looking forward
to a May 2020 start to our
season," continued Rowe.
The Rowe family brings a
lifetime of motorsports
promotion to the effort. "My
dad, Bill Sr., was a promoter
when I was a kid," said Rowe,
who's been racing for over 40
years and counts grasping the
AMRA Eliminator championship
out of Donnie Huffman's firm
grip in 2017 as his proudest on-
track achievement.
"At 14 years old I was racing,
doing the rider payouts and
handling the points system, so
I've been doing this a while.
"But it's not just me and my
family. We have a good team of
advisers on board to help us
with this, and we'll be
announcing them along with a
schedule shortly.
Bill Rowe Jr.
"We're also working with the
Top Fuel Harley racers to make
sure our schedule plays nice
with the NHRA schedule so that
we get the pros at our events
and develop the next
generation of Top Fuel Harley
stars right here at AHDRA.
"We've got five classes covered
with sponsorships already, but
there's room for more to jump
on board. We're looking to bring
back that AHDRA style of
racing." A new AHDRA website
will soon be up and running.
www.AMDchampionship.com