Sources : AMD , IDN , FT , Reuters , PSB , MPN , BDN , MCN , AP , Bloomberg , MSNW , Electrek , electricmotorcycles . news , RideApart . com , Motor1 . com , Cycle World , motorbikewriter . com news ROOM
NEWS
BRIEFS
Kawasaki ' s Ninja H2R-powered unmanned drone prototype is a VTOL machine that can reportedly carry a 200 kg ( 441 pound ) payload . The Kawasaki K-Racer project is a multidisciplinary effort put together by Kawasaki Heavy Industries . Taking some of the best technological advancements , it ' s come up with it across its various child companies , like Kawasaki Motors and Kawasaki Robotics . KHI has been working to advance its vision for what it calls " Near-Future Mobility " in the 2020s ; www . rideapart . com
Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali has been reconfirmed for a third term as President of Motor Valley Development - the unique promotional business charged with promoting the Bologna area of Italy as an automotive and powersports industry centre of excellence - " I believe that enhancing the uniqueness of this territory is a duty for those who , like us , are part of it . It is an honour to be able to continue in this role in the next two years ". The Bologna ( Emilia-Romagna ) Motor Valley is a unique industrial region in the world - with 16,500 companies and over 90,000 employees , with € 16bn in annual turnover , exports of € 7bn and some 13 different specialised museums , 18 private collections and four racetracks ; www . motorvalley . it
Honda has previewed the Honda E-Clutch for motorcycles , saying it is " the world ' s first automatic clutch control system for a multi-gear motorcycle transmission ". Honda says it " uses electronic control technology to provide instantaneous , fine-tuned clutch control for optimum performance in situations where the driving force changes - such as starting , shifting gears and stopping - to achieve smooth starting , shifting gears and a more natural stopping experience than a rider ' s manual clutch operation ".
The blows that are starting to rain down on the stalling EV industry appear to be coming thick and fast at present - Apple has reportedly cancelled its plans to build electric vehicles a decade after the iPhone maker was rumoured to be working on the project . According to Bloomberg News , the company has never publicly acknowledged the project , which involves around two thousand people .
KSR Group restructured
The Austrian KSR Group GmbH has successfully completed its restructuring proceedings following its September 2023 filing application for administered restructuring proceedings . The court lifted the external administration proceedings of KSR Group in December 2023 and approved the restructuring plan . The creditors ' meeting had previously approved the restructuring measures with a large majority . This cleared the way for a fresh start for the Gedersdorf , Austria based company , with over 140 jobs retained and sales in key core markets in Europe sustained . " The foundation for a successful future has been laid ," said Michael and Christian Kirschenhofer , managing directors of KSR Group GmbH . " This was made possible , on the one hand , by the willingness of our business partners to cooperate and , on the other hand , by the great support of our employees . We would like to thank everyone involved for their trust and can now be full of optimism for the next steps ." In order to be able to adapt more flexibly to the economic conditions , KSR Group GmbH is being reorganised . Austria , Germany , Switzerland , Italy , Greece and Belgium remain as core markets in the mobility sector ; other countries will be handled via importers in the future . The reduction of sales markets and sales brands creates leaner structures and greater cost efficiency . In global sales , the focus will be on the group brands “ Malaguti ” and “ Brixton ”. Before running into its recent difficulties , the company , which was founded by the Kirschenhofers some
25 years ago , had been selling around 60,000 vehicles a year . It owned , licenced or managed some 15 motorcycle , scooter and broader powersports vehicle brands ( additionally including Motron , Lambretta , Italjet , NIU and CFMoto Off-Road ). It had been selling through some 2,300 dealers in 60 countries worldwide and with offices in Greece , Italy , Spain , Switzerland , Belgium and the Netherlands , as well as its head office in Austria .
MV Agusta x Mytech collaboration
Unveiled at EICMA in November 2023 , Italian made luggage specialist Mytech Accessories is in collaboration with MV Agusta to supply 33-39 litre original equipment aluminium cases for the LXP 9.5 - MV ' s first true ADV model , and as the LXP Orioli , named for four-time Dakar winner Edi Orioli . The new 931 cc three-cylinder machine is inspired by the Cagiva Elefant he rode to victory in 1990 and is set to provide the springboard for a range of new models powered by this engine . The result of the synergy between the experiential design of MV Agusta and the 60-years of expertise that Mytech can leverage , " the collaboration between the two pioneering brands in their respective fields of motorcycling culminates in a
fusion of the highest quality , created to excite enthusiasts and amateurs alike " said Laura Contò , Marketing Manager of Mytech . " We are very proud of the cohesion established with the
R & D department and the design centre of MV Agusta and we hope that this is just a first step towards other new and significant projects developed together ." www . mytechaccessories . it
16 INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - MARCH / APRIL 2024 www . idnmag . com