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NEWS
BRIEFS
The 43rd edition of the Dakar Rally is set to be held in Saudi Arabia for the second time . The marathon will be held for 14 days , lasting from 3rd January until 15th January 2021 in cooperation with the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation .
Despite already having individually developed very different E-motorcycle and scooter projects , all at various stages of gestation , in a joint announcement in September , Honda , Yamaha , Suzuki and Kawasaki said that the 2019 created consortium established to develop swappable electric two- wheeler battery tech has finally produced results with a large scale proof of concept and demonstration test underway in association with Osaka University .
German publisher Vogel , who closed its Bike & Business magazine and blog three months ago , has announced its sale to another German publisher , one with roots in the motorcycle industry , Syburger Verlag GmbH , owners of online platform www . motorrad . net and " MotorradSzene ", " MOTORRAD NEWS " and " Tourenfahrer " magazines .
The MIC ( the U . S . motorcycle industry trade association ) says year-to-date sales of new motorcycles and scooters through September 2020 increased + 10.2 percent compared to the same period last year .
Brembo buys SBS Friction
Italian automotive and motorcycle brakes industry giant Brembo has signed an agreement for the acquisition of a 100 % stake in SBS Friction A / S of Svendborg , Denmark . A Brembo news release states that " the transaction will allow the integration of such a strategic component as brake pads in Brembo ' s current product range , with particular attention to the environment , and further strengthening Brembo ' s leadership in the motorbike sector . " This acquisition is in line with Brembo ' s new mission to become a respected solution provider , with a view to meeting the new sustainable mobility paradigms and offering the best driving experience ". Alberto Bombassei , Chairman of Brembo , is quoted as saying : " We are particularly glad to welcome SBS Friction to our Group . Despite the highly complex market context , Brembo has maintained its natural propensity to invest in innovation . This acquisition is an important step in our strategy : it enables us to integrate even more specific competences in a key sector to further strengthen our range of ' made-in-Brembo ' solutions for the benefit of our customers ." Peter Eriksen Jensen , Chairman of SBS Group , stated : " Brembo has long been a trustworthy partner that knows the value of SBS Friction ' s technological knowhow and its strong niche position . We are pleased that SBS Friction will get a strong , longterm industrial owner who will support the company ' s continued development . The transaction is a
AIMExpo Cancelled
Slated for Columbus , Ohio in January 2021 , the Board of Directors of the MIC has confirmed the not unexpected news that it has had to cancel AIMExpo in January 2021 - which is itself a rebuilt date from the original early October 2020 slot . Indeed , the entire expo was a rebuilt concept , having abandoned the consumer attendance days and folded back into the classic three-day trade expo format that the market appears to have left behind - certainly in terms of theoretically independent trade shows . While the burgeoning market of distributor events has been hit by COVID-19 concerns , AIMExpo appears to have been hit by a double whammy - the pandemic and , to judge by the
show floorplan , a decidedly lukewarm response from vendors . Which is a shame as it had been hoped that co-joining with Tucker Powersports to host their traditional January Dealer Show at AIMExpo , and in the Midwest rather than its usual venues in Texas , should have helped to put wind back into the event ' s sails - however , with COVID-19 reshaping the way specialty and traditional channel based industries such as the good solution for SBS Group , SBS Friction , the employees and the city of Svendborg ." The transaction entails a consideration of 224m Danish Kroner , equal to approximately € 30m , which will be paid using available cash , and is subject to the customary adjustment mechanisms as for similar transactions . Enterprise value is 300m Danish Kroner , equal to about € 40.3m . The agreement is expected to be finalised in the first quarter of 2021 . SBS Friction ' s revenue declined by 11 % in the first half of 2020 to DKK 74 million ( around € 9.9m ) due to COVID-19 , while the profit margin ( EBITDA recurring ) increased by + 2.8 % points to 27.3 % on the back of efficiency initiatives and postponement of certain activities . In the second half of 2020 , the company ' s results have so far exceeded the level realised in the record year of 2019 .
motorcycle market do business , we may now never know if the initiative and changes would have made a difference . Cinnamon Kernes , Vice President and General Manager MIC Events , is quoted as saying : " We have made the difficult decision to postpone the 2021 AIMExpo , the industry ' s annual trade show , and while this wasn ' t an easy choice , it is certainly the right one . " There is tremendous value in face-toface meetings and in-person events , and we believe in their ability to create irreplaceable opportunities to connect with people and businesses to drive commerce ." Earlier this year , AIMExpo and Tucker Powersports announced that they were co-locating their shows .
64 INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - DECEMBER 2020 / JANUARY 2021 www . idnmag . com