International Dealer News IDN 137 June/July 2017 | Page 21

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VP Italy adds ‘B2B’ platform
VP Italy (Vertex Pistons) has
added a new ‘B2B’ e-commerce
tool to its website “in order to
offer a more efficient service to
its sales force, distributors and
dealers”.
“This is a secured area for our
resellers where they can choose
and order anything from the
extensive product ranges we
offer”, Marketing Director Lina
Saccani Vezzani told IDN.
Those product ranges include
VP’s own Vertex replacement
and performance pistons and
piston kits and noted American
brands such as Arrowhead,
Cylinder Works, Fuel Star,
Hotcams, Hot Rods, Pivot Works,
Wrench Rabbit, All Balls and
Motobatt.
“From this platform, you can
also access our extensive library
of technical information and
have direct contact with the
several sales and technical
departments within our
company”.
www.vertexpistons.com
Suzuki unit sales down by -6.2 percent
for 2016-2017 fiscal
Suzuki has announced that on a Group
basis its motorcycle sales in Europe for
its financial year 2016-2017 (the
period ended March 31st 2017) were
down by -6.2 percent at 45,000 units,
with the final quarter (the first three
months of 2017 down by -28.1
percent at 7,000 units.
However, the company is forecasting
+18.1 percent growth for 2017-2018
at 53,000 units.
North American unit sales were down
by -30 percent for the 12 month period
at 32,000 units and down by -44.9
percent at 7,000 units for the first
three months of 2017.
Asian sales were -8.1 percent for the
year at 1,039,000 units, but +5.3
percent (278,000 units) for the first
three months of 2017. Domestic
Japanese sales were +24.1 percent at
17,000 units for the first three months
of 2017, and +1.5 percent for the full
financial year at 62,000 units.
Total worldwide sales (including ATVs)
were -0.3 percent for the period
January to March 2017 at 351,000
units (4,000 ATVs) and -8.9 percent at
1,367,000 units (18,000 ATVs) for the
full financial year.