Powersports Business articles from December 2006

Powersports Business archives from December 2006

An essential revenue source; Survey: the preowned market is becoming more crucial to powersports dealers as margins on new units have been squeezed.(A PSB National Dealers Survey)
December 4, 2006... The preowned market is becoming more and more important for powersports dealers' bottom lines. That's the conclusion from a nationwide dealer survey that found the used bike business is a growing segment and a more profitable one than new...

Polaris lays off 77 in wake of reduced sales: personnel cutbacks are part of 3-step plan to stimulate growth.(NEWS)
December 4, 2006... Polaris Industries Inc. has laid off 77 employees as part of a three-step plan the company hopes will lead to future business growth. The layoffs, announced Nov. 8, represent a 2 percent employee reduction move for the Medina, Minn.,...

Harley-Davidson, union agree on expansion plans.(HOTNEWS)
December 4, 2006... Harley-Davidson has stopped searching for a new manufacturing site for its power train operations after members of the United Steelworkers of America agreed to a new pact with the company. The agreement, announced Nov. 14 after a 943-536...

Daelim relocates to a larger facility.(HOTNEWS)
December 4, 2006... Daelim Motor USA has relocated to a larger facility in the Miami area. The South Korea manufacturer of scooters and motorcycles, which is completing its second year of distribution in the United States, has relocated to a part of Miami...

Hackett Group forms alliance.(HOTNEWS)(Otis Hackett Group Inc. forms partnership with Razor's Edge Difference)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... Otis Hackett Group, Inc. has formed a partnership with Razor's Edge Difference, an operations and accounting consulting firm focused on the powersports industry. Debbie Thibault, president of Razor's Edge Difference, has worked extensively...

Ehlert wins innovation award.(Ehlert Publishing Group Inc.)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... Ehlert Publishing Group's online video programming, just a few months into its launch, has received recognition from a media group. Ehlert's Web-video initiative, which includes the weekly Inside Powersports news show, earned the 2006...

300 miles of Arkansas OHV trails in jeopardy.(off highway vehicles)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... Rider objections to a proposed trail closure in the Ozark-St. Francis National Forests in Arkansas has Forest Service officials considering increasing the number of trails available for OHV riders. According to the Associated Press,...

ADP Lightspeed names new general manager.(Laurn Rice promoted)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... ADP Lightspeed announced a change in leadership as General Manager and Vice President Rob McBratney was recently named president of ADP's Shanghai, China office for dealer services. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Taking over for McBratney will...

A virtual classroom comes to the industry.(NEWS)
December 4, 2006... A powersports company has started a new training method for members of a dealership's staff that occupy frequently high-turnover, but crucial, front-line positions. The new training method is Dealership University's version of a virtual...

Online parts training offered by Scorpion.(NEWS)
December 4, 2006... Scorpion Sports says it has teamed up with Dealership University to become the first after-market brand to create an online training curriculum for parts and accessory personnel at powersports dealerships. Dealers who carry ScorpionExo...

EICMA attracts 530,000.(International Milan Motorbike Show)
December 4, 2006... MILAN, Italy -- Rivalry from other major events, bad weather and transportation strikes weren't enough to diminish attendance at the 64th EICMA International Milan Motorbike Show (EICMA 2006). Held Nov. 14-19 in the new Milan/Rho Exhibition...

EICMA seminars offer trade tips.(Italian Association of Motorbike and Accessory Manufacturers )
December 4, 2006... The Italian Association of Motorbike and Accessory Manufacturers (ANCMA) sponsored a number of seminars at the 64th EICMA International Milan Motorbike Show (EICMA 2006). A seminar titled "Brand and Design as Drivers for Development for...

Italian OEMs take spotlight at EICMA.(NEWS)
December 4, 2006... The world's leading motorcycle manufacturers showed a number of new products at the 64th EICMA International Milan Motorbike Show (EICMA 2006). Major OEMs in attendance included Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Harley-Davidson, BMW, KTM,...

Reasons to pursue the preowned market.(Suzuki Motor Corp.)(Excerpt)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... This is an excerpt from the Suzuki Pre-Owned Motorcycle Guidebook: HIGHER GROSS PROFIT POTENTIAL THAN NEW MOTORCYCLES * Gross profit margins of 25 percent or more are attainable. * Establishing pre-determined margins on your used...

An alarming view of the ATV industry.(FROM THE EDITOR)
December 4, 2006... The latest national election has come and gone and the best thing I can remember from it is a candidate's flyer that arrived in my mailbox with the ironic headline, "Why bother?" [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] There was more to the flyer than...

Suzuki's first-half income up 27.5%.(FINANCIAL)
December 4, 2006... Japan's Suzuki Motor Corp. says increased automobile sales brought the company record sales and profits for the first half of its fiscal year. Suzuki net income for the six months ended Sept. 30 was 39.5 billion yen ($337.7 million) or...

Kawasaki reports huge increase in net income.(DIGEST)
December 4, 2006... In the first six months of its fiscal year, Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) has recorded a net income increase that's in the triple digits. KHI reported its net income for the six-month period ending Sept. 30 was 11.4 billion yen ($96.6...

Arkona reports revenue increase in second quarter.(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... ARKONA, Inc., which supplies business management software to powersports and automotive dealerships, reported a 14 percent increase in revenue for its second quarter over the previous year. The company said its gross profit rose slightly to...

Dorel reports increased revenue, decreased earnings.(DIGEST)
December 4, 2006... Dorel Industries, Inc., the company that owns Schwinn Motor Sports, reported increase revenue but decreased net earnings for its third quarter that ended Sept. 30. Dorel, a global consumer products company, announced third-quarter revenue...

Market watch.(POWERSPORTS BUSINESS STOCK MARKET WATCH)
December 4, 2006... MARKET WATCH Change 11/27/06 from 10/27 % Change Powersports Business Index [up arrow] 114.350 0.38 0.003% Dow Jones Index [up...

Stock market activity.(POWERSPORTS BUSINESS STOCK MARKET WATCH)
December 4, 2006... STOCK MARKET ACTIVITY [GRAPHIC OMITTED] Source: A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.

Powersports Business winners and losers.(POWERSPORTS BUSINESS STOCK MARKET WATCH)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... POWERSPORTS BUSINESS WINNERS AND LOSERS Stock Price Percent Company Ticker 11/16/06 Change Cooper Tire & Rubber CTB $13.66 26.7% Orbital Engine Corp. ...

Foreign currency exchange.(POWERSPORTS BUSINESS STOCK MARKET WATCH)
December 4, 2006... FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE 6 Months Baseline 11/16/06 1 Month Ago Ago Ticker Price Price % Change Price Australian...

Powersports Business stocks.(POWERSPORTS BUSINESS STOCK MARKET WATCH)(Statistical table)
December 4, 2006... POWERSPORTS BUSINESS STOCKS POWERSPORTS BUSINESS INDEX COMPONENTS Stock Price Price Company Ticker 11/16/06 10/27/06 Arctic Cat, Inc. ACAT $17.49...

Ducati sees a slight increase in revenue: U.S. registrations for Ducati jumped 23 percent.(FINANCIAL)
December 4, 2006... Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. (NYSE: DMH) reported a slight revenue increase for the first nine months of the year, but the Italian company still posted an overall loss of Euro 4.6 million ($5.8 million). Even though DMH remains in the red,...

Karts reaching for ATV-level acceptance: industry officials believe the new karts' safer and better ride will draw in more consumers.(PSB FOCUS: Karts & Mini Quads)(all terrain vehicles)(Industry overview)
December 4, 2006... Karts, or "go-karts" and "mini buggies" as they are commonly referred to, are fighting through an identity crisis. Modeled after full-sized dune buggies, the popular, smaller off-road vehicles are in the midst of a transitional phase that...

OEMs say they're holding their own in youth quad sales: but low-cost importers are grabbing at least 10 percent of the market, if not more.(PSB FOCUS: Karts & Mini Quads)
December 4, 2006... Despite the 3.1 percent overall decrease in demand for ATVs from major manufacturers, OEMs report they are holding their own in the youth ATV category Because importers of ATVs manufactured mainly in China and Taiwan do not report sales...

Proposal seeks to increase youth training.(PSB FOCUS: Karts & Mini Quads)
December 4, 2006... The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) believes that 6,000 to 7,000 more ATV owners will seek training annually should proposed federal rule changes be adopted. The proposals are designed to increase the amount of training provided...

Polaris ATVs in Canada have defective rear reflectors.(ATV Report)
December 4, 2006... Polaris Industries Inc. has been ordered to place ads in newspapers across Canada to try to track down 88,000 ATVs with unsafe rear reflectors. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The recall, announced after investigators discovered the reflectors...

Warn Industries Inc. Recalls eight-post ATV winch kits.(ATV Report)
December 4, 2006... Clackamas, Ore.-based Warn Industries Inc., in cooperation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, is recalling approximately 218,000 Warn ATV and Utility Vehicle winch kits. The winch kits can continue to pull current when in the...

FMF, Blueribbon Coalition team up for quieter quads.(FMF Racing)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... FMF Racing, a leading aftermarket performance exhaust manufacture, has begun working with the BlueRibbon Coalition to help educate off-highway vehicle (OHV) enthusiasts about the need to use quiet mufflers on public and private lands. Don...

MIC, SVIA defend ATV use in national parks.(ATV Report)
December 4, 2006... Two industry groups are working through legal channels to keep ATV access in two national parks. The Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) and the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America (SVIA) have taken action to preserve ATV use in the...

A new ATV pro series emerges: new AMA series will result in indoor racing and a 250cc-based class in '08.(ATV)
December 4, 2006... One year after the successful debut of the WPSA ATV Tour racing series, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is re-branding its All-Terrain Vehicle Association (ATVA) racing series as the AMA Pro ATV Championship. AMA's Pro ATV...

Adjusting to a change in political leadership: ORBA director discusses how the new Democratic-led Congress will impact OHV groups.(Fred Wiley of Off-Road Business Association, off highway vehicles)(Interview)
December 4, 2006... Off-Road Business Association (ORBA) Executive Director Fred Wiley is approaching his one-year mark with the trade association in a very different political climate than when he started. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Wiley, who was hired in...

Waukon Power Sports.(POWER PROFILE)(Company overview)
December 4, 2006... CONTACT Waukon Power Sports 208 Hwy. 9 South Waukon, Iowa 52172 877/568-4025 www.waukonpowersports.com Waukon Honda 160 Hwy. 9 SW Waukon, Iowa 52172 563/568-4600 www.waukonhonda.com/ Waukon...

Woods Fun Center.(POWER PROFILE)
December 4, 2006... CONTACT Woods Fun Center 11405 North IH 35 Austin, Texas, 78753 512/459-3311 www.woodsfuncenter.com OWNER America's Powersports BUSINESS PROFILE Woods Fun Center was started more than 30 years ago. In...

Buell celebrates 100,000 units.(Cycle Report)
December 4, 2006... Buell Motorcycle Company employees in East Troy, Wis., spent Nov. 17 celebrating the production of the company's 100,000th motorcycle, a 2007 Ulysses XB12X. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Erik Buell began the...

Aprilia partners with Jincheng.(Cycle Report)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... Jincheng Corporation, one of China's largest motorcycle manufacturers, says it has formed a strategic manufacturing partnership with Aprilia. Jincheng says the agreement will have it manufacture a new line of Aprilia motorcycles and...

Piaggio pushes three-wheeler.(Cycle Report)
December 4, 2006... Piaggio Group Americas has invited journalists in the United States to ride the company's new three-wheeled scooter on Dec. 6, prior to the opening of the International Motorcycle Show (IMS) in Long Beach, Calif. Dubbed the MP3 when...

Manheim, Big Twin West plan custom auction.(Cycle Report)
December 4, 2006... Manheim and Big Twin West plan to partner to host the first-ever custom bike auction on Dec. 3 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. The auction is being held in conjunction with the Big Twin Customs Invitational competition...

Victory recalls in Canada.(Cycle Report)(Polaris Industries Inc. Victory Motorcycles Div.)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... Polaris' Victory line has had a tough year in Canada. Transport Canada, the nation's transportation safety agency, says the brand experienced four recalls in 2006. In May, new axles were ordered installed on all 2006 Victory Eightball,...

Big dog hires longtime Arctic Cat manager.(Cycle Report)(Wayne Hanson appointed at Big Dog Motorcycles L.L.C.)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... V-twin manufacturer Big Dog Motorcycles recently appointed Wayne Hanson as its customer support manager. Prior to joining Big Dog, Hanson was employed for more than 20 years at Minnesota-based Arctic Cat. "With his proven...

H.O.G. aims for Knoxville in 2007.(Cycle Report)(Harley Owners Group)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... Harley Owners Group (H.O.G.) plans to hold its 24th annual rally Aug. 24-25 at Chilhowee Park in Knoxville, Tenn. Founded in 1983, the Harley Owners Group (H.O.G.) is the official riding club of the Harley-Davidson Motor Company. H.O.G....

Ridley becomes a NASCAR sponsor.(Cycle Report)
December 4, 2006... Ridley Motorcycles has become an official sponsor of a NASCAR race team. The Oklahoma City-based motorcycle manufacturer joined Keith Coleman Racing as the primary sponsors of the No. 23 NASCAR Busch series race car driven by Brad...

Tackling the preowned market: how dealers are facing the market's challenges and how much auctions are playing a part in the solution.(MOTORCYCLE)
December 4, 2006... Rick George, co-owner of Two Brothers Honda in La Crosse, Wis., has decided to put more emphasis on the preowned market in 2007 by devoting more showroom floor to used motorcycles. That could become an industry trend in the new year as a...

Schwinn reports rapid growth in its scooter sales: company says it has gone from 40 dealers to 250 in the U.S. in a year's time.(MOTORCYCLE)
December 4, 2006... Schwinn Motor Sports, a relative newcomer to the scooter market, reports a rapidly growing dealer network, meaning the company best known for its bicycles has been able to overcome its powersports stigma: its place of origin. The company's...

Hahn Memorial will feature Yamaha giveaway.(PWC Report)
December 4, 2006... Organizer of the APBA National Mark Hahn Memorial 300, scheduled to take place in Lake Havasu City, Ariz., on Feb. 24 have announced they will be giving away a Yamaha VX110 Deluxe during the awards ceremony to an individual in attendance,...

Dream Demo 2007.(PWC Report)(Watercraft World)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... Watercraft World's Dream Demo 2007 recently wrapped a week of testing in St. Petersburg, Fla. The annual event, which brings together the newest models from all five major OEMs--HydroSpace, Honda, Kawasaki, Sea-Doo and Yamaha--allows both...

2007 IJSBA rule book will be available soon.(PWC Report)
December 4, 2006... Voting on several rule book changes was completed on Nov. 24, and the International Jet Sports Boating Association (IJSBA) indicates that the 2007 Rule Book will be finalized and on its way to affiliates by Jan. 9.

Flirting with the speed limit: new, more powerful engines mean OEMs are edging up against a voluntary speed cap.(Editorial)
December 4, 2006... Recent escalations in the horsepower of some personal watercraft have raised questions about whether PWC manufacturers are heading into territory deemed off-limits under a so-called "gentlemen's agreement" between OEMs and the Unites States...

Winter X Games add freestyle.(ESPN Inc. introduces snowmobile racing)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... The ESPN Winter X Games have added a new snowmobile competition to its roster this winter: freestyle. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The X Games will take place in Aspen, Colo., on Jan. 25-28. Snowmobile racing has been a part of the Winter X...

Trails reopen in Idaho.(Judge Robert Whaley reopens)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... Snowmobile access to trails and backcountry areas in northern Idaho were re-opened by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Robert Whaley on Nov. 7. The order is part of an ongoing lawsuit, filed by environmental groups, that challenges federal...

Hall of Fame planned for Eagle River.(World Snowmobile Hall Of Fame)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... The World Snowmobile Hall Of Fame is being set up in a vacant Eagle River, Wis., storefront and will be home to some of the International Snowmobile Hall Of Fame collection. The World Snowmobile Hall Of Fame is at the junction of three...

A way to guarantee snow: in an effort to increase sled sales, dealers are working with tour companies to bring the consumer to the snow.(SNOWMOBILE)(Company overview)
December 4, 2006... It was 1980 when Brian Nelson opened up a snowmobile dealership in Spicer, Minn., and he was missing one important thing: snow. "We were sitting there with a showroom full of snowmobiles and accessories and no customers or cash flow,"...

Helmet House adds general counsel to staff.(Darci Teobaldi appointed)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... Helmet House, Inc., a distributor of helmets and riding gear, appointed Darci Teobaldi to the post of general counsel. Teobaldi has an extensive background in legal affairs, having been senior counsel for a Fortune 500 scientific...

Spy Optic taps Emler Jr. for new motorsports marketing role.(DIGEST)
December 4, 2006... Donny Emler, Jr., a spokesman for FMF Racing, will begin also working for Spy Optic, a maker of sunglasses and goggles for the action sports market. Emler will fill the newly created position of motorsports lifestyle marketing operative,...

Vehicle identification number decoder released.(Consumer Research Solutions Inc.)(Brief article)
December 4, 2006... Consumer Research Solutions, Inc. (CRS), a powersports data provider, recently unveiled VIN Fact, a vehicle identification number decoder that provides motorcycle model descriptions. Users enter a VIN and receive VIN validation and product...

A look at Amazon's market entry: so far the online giant is using 'third-party sellers' to provide parts, accessories.(AFTERMARKET)
December 4, 2006... A Fortune 500 company has taken an initial step into the powersports aftermarket arena with the introduction of online sales. But just how big of a presence Amazon.com will have in the industry remains uncertain. For now, the Internet...

Dealership project turns to service department.(AFTERMARKET)
December 4, 2006... Companies involved in the yearlong Turning Technology Into Sales and Profit series are turning their attention to S & W's service department. S & W is the Jasper, Ala., dealership that is trying to modernize its business practices with the...

Agendas differ for U.S. firms at Intermot.(AFTERMARKET)
December 4, 2006... COLOGNE, GERMANY -- More than 80 powersports companies from the United States were among the 1,130 firms that showcased products and services at Intermot 2006 here in Germany. Participating U.S. companies were represented by longtime...

U.S. firms buy out Intermot booth space.(AFTERMARKET)(Company overview)
December 4, 2006... Darrin Stern, USA project manager for Intermot organizer Koeln Messe, Inc., spent the past two years crisscrossing the United States visiting with powersports product manufacturers and suppliers who were debating whether to attend Intermot...

U.S. distributors show multi-prong approach at Intermot.(AFTERMARKET)
December 4, 2006... While many powersports companies at Intermot were seeking to expand their business in Germany and other countries in Europe, quite a few foreign firms said they hoped to set their sights on North America. For them, meetings with U.S.-based...

Taking an in-depth look at a service department.(RETAIL REMEDIES)(automobile dealers)
December 4, 2006... This series of articles recaps a portion of the opportunities that were uncovered by Gart Sutton and Associates' power-sports specialists during actual consulting visits. These opportunities are followed by recommended actions. ...

Fewer service appointments lead to an obvious sales question.(DOLLARS AND SENSE)
December 4, 2006... Six years ago I found that 60 to 70 percent of metric units did not appear in the shop in the 18 months following the sale (see the top chart at right). Polaris also fit this pattern. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I also found that for Buell,...

How to keep afloat in the information age.(DEALER ADVOCATE)(managing sales in dealership)
December 4, 2006... The "swirl" I have talked about for many years is still there and you and your department managers are buffeted by it daily. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] We could talk at length about the distractions you deal with constantly and your need...

3 bold ideas of 2006.(Britt Motorsports,)
December 25, 2006... They were bold. They were cutting edge. And best of all, they have given a select few powersports dealers across the nation a legitimate shot at higher profits. Through dozens of conversations with dealers last year, Powersports Business...

New dealer groups plan legislative pushes in '07: at least four new associations started in '06.(NEWS)
December 25, 2006... Some of the new state powersports dealer associations formed in 2006 head into the new year with aggressive legislative goals. At least four such associations started this year, in Nevada, Georgia, Arizona and Oklahoma. The National Council...

Piaggio chairman found guilty in bankruptcy case.(NEWS)
December 25, 2006... Piaggio & C. SpA Chairman Roberto Colaninno was one of three executives sentenced to prison in December after an Italian court found them guilty of practicing "preferential bankruptcy" in a case related to a failed real estate and hotel...

AMA acts to spur federal motorcycle crash study funding.(American Motorcyclist Association)(Brief article)
December 25, 2006... The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) has committed $100,000 to help fund a comprehensive nationwide study of motorcycle crashes, and encourages individual motorcyclists, organizations and businesses in the industry to contribute to the...

Group works to reduce impact of motorcycle events.(HOTNEWS)
December 25, 2006... The Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) has agreed to participate in a study designed to find ways to reduce the environmental impact of motorcycle events. The FIM and the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) signed the...

Honda Motor India begins operations.(HOTNEWS)
December 25, 2006... Working through a newly established wholly owned subsidiary called Honda Motor India Pvt Ltd. (HMI), Japan's Honda Motor Co. Ltd. formally began operations from its corporate office in India last month. Takeo Fukui, president and CEO, Honda...

Cross Industries makes acquisition.(HOTNEWS)
December 25, 2006... Cross Industries AG, majority owner of KTM Sportmotorcycle AG, has acquired more than 5 percent of automotive industry supplier Polytec Holding AG. Founded in 1986 in Grieskirchen, Austria, Polytec had sales revenue of more than Euro 500...

AMA approves changes to competition rules.(HOTNEWS)
December 25, 2006... The American Motorcyclist Association's board of directors met in Las Vegas for two days in November to consider a number of competition rule change recommendations levied by the AMA Congress in October. The AMA Congress consists of...

Powersports BusinessXchange: 'decision makers meeting and interfacing with decision makers'; Annual event draws leaders from throughout the industry.
December 25, 2006... SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Powersports power players from different parts of the industry converged here recently for the third annual Powersports BusinessXchange. The three-day event combines leaders of manufacturing, service and aftermarket...

Bits and pieces of 2006 worth cherishing.(Emil Gomez)(Editorial)
December 25, 2006... In the old days, they called it the cutting room floor. That's where all the "gems" of long-winded reporters would end up: in a heap on the floor of the newspaper's production room. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] They were the roadkill of the...

Passion and profitability: both are key to the industry.(DEALER ADVOCATE)
December 25, 2006... We are a business of enthusiasts. We have to be, our product would not make it on logic alone. It starts with a passion that transcends inhibition and is driven by a need for exhilaration. What we sell is expensive and potentially dangerous. It...

Honda sales slow in mature markets: unit sales down but revenues up in the U.S.(FINANCIAL)
December 25, 2006... Motorcycle sales by Honda Motor Co. slowed during the first half of fiscal 2007 in traditionally strong markets like North America and Europe, but grew in burgeoning areas like Southeast Asia and Latin America. Honda sold 5.075 million...

Wisconsin offers Harley-Davidson $4.5 million in tax credits.(DIGEST)
December 25, 2006... Harley-Davidson Motor Co. will receive $4.5 million in enterprise zone jobs tax credits from the Wisconsin Department of Commerce to support an expansion of its Menomonee Falls facility, ongoing workforce training and development, and the...

Piaggio net profit up 20.4 percent.(Financial report)(Brief article)
December 25, 2006... Italy's Piaggio & C. SpA said net profits for the first nine months of the year were up 20.4 percent to Euro 77.6 million ($103 million) as a result of increased sales in the United States, Europe and India. Piaggio said sales for the...

BMW cycle sales up in Canada.(DIGEST)
December 25, 2006... BMW Motorrad Canada says 1,172 units were sold there during the first 10 months of 2006, up 5.6 percent from sales during the same 10-month period in 2005. BMW Group Canada, Whitby, Ontario, is a wholly owned subsidiary of BMW AG and is...

LoJack Corp. reports decreased third-quarter results.(DIGEST)
December 25, 2006... LoJack Corp. (Nasdaq NMS: LOJN) said net income for the third quarter ended Sept. 30 was $5.2 million, or $0.28 per fully diluted share, down 10 percent from $5.8 million, or $0.30 per fully diluted share, in the same quarter a year ago. ...

DFS offers new online prospecting service.(DIGEST)
December 25, 2006... Dealers Finance Source (DFS), a Dallas-based provider of outsourced F & I solutions for powersports dealers, says a new strategic partnership with National Web Leads (NWL), an online lead generation firm based in Estero, Fla., will provide...

Sachs spared by buyout.(Sachs Fahrzeug- und Motorentechnik GmbH)(Brief article)
December 25, 2006... Germany's Sachs Fahrzeug- und Motorentechnik GmbH was rescued from bankruptcy by a Nov. 3 management buyout. A producer of small displacement motorcycles and a supplier of small engines to third-party manufacturers, Sachs is the successor...

Nyse seeks to expand globally.(DIGEST)
December 25, 2006... The NYSE Group, Inc. (NYSE, Inc.) currently operates two securities exchanges: the NYSE and NYSE Arca, Inc. On June 1, NYSE, Inc. and Euronext N.V. announced an agreement to combine the leading U.S. and pan-European securities trading exchanges...