Club Car Recalls Limited Number of Utility & Transport Vehicles

Club Car, in cooperation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, is recalling approximately 100 utility and transport vehicles.  The brake pedal mounting blocks can crack and separate, resulting in a loss of braking ability.  To date no incidents of cracking or resulting injuries have been reported.  The vehicles were sold during April and May of 2011 and include a range of models and serial numbers.  Club Car is contacting customers directly to provide a free replacement of the mounting blocks.  For more information and specific models and serial numbers affected see CPSC.gov

Club Car European News

Club Car has launched www.clubcar.tv to showcase the company’s electric golf cars and utility vehicles.  The microsite provides information about the Club Car’s latest technologies as well as news and case studies from vehicle operators at various European and Middle Eastern golf facilities.  Learn more:  Worldgolf.com

Also in the European market, the PGA announced the purchase of an eleven vehicle fleet of Club Car vehicles for use at PGA events.  The vehicles will be distributed to various regions in Great Britain and Ireland and the PGA headquarters. A number of the vehicles feature Club Car’s Delta Q on-board charging system.  Learn more:  Worldgolf.com

Club Car Extends European Tour Partnership

Club Car has extended their partnership with professional golf’s European Tour through 2014 including the 2014 Ryder Cup.  As part of the deal Club Car provides 70 or more golf cars and utility vehicles at each of 26 tournaments during the year.  At the Ryder Cup upwards of 300 vehicles are provided for promoters anda variety of support staff.  Club Car has worked with the tour since 1999.  Learn more:  Thesportscampus.com

EV Market Focus: California

Coast Carts of Ventura, CA is an indicator of the growing market for LSVs in California.  With local government mandates and a push at the state level to reduce gas consumption by 50%, there are plenty of local and state organizations looking for alternative vehicles for short-distance transportation.  California also offers rebates above any available federal rebates and a rebate program specifically for farmers in the San Joaquin Valley switching to electric vehicles.

Coast Carts reports an increase in sales of 200% over the last twelve months.  In response to the demand the dealership has added several new lines including the Breeze LSV from Polaris, Taylor-Dunn utility vehicles and Club Car vehicles to existing models from Garia and E-Z-Go.  Learn more:  VCStar.com

Club Car Announces Recall Involving Brakes

At the end of June Club Car announced a voluntary a recall of golf cars and hospitality, utility and transport vehicles. The recall involves approximately 800 2011 DS golf cars and hospitality, utility and transport vehicles manufactured between April and May 2011. The specific reason for the recall:

The brake pedal mounting blocks can crack and separate, resulting in a loss of braking ability. This can result in a crash.

Club Car is offering a free brake pedal replacement and owners should stop using the recalled vehicles until they are fixed. Club Car is contacting all known owners of the recalled vehicles. For more information, contact Club Car at (800) 227-0739 ext. 3580  Learn more:  Consumer.einnews.com

UK Hotel & Resort Group Places Large Order With Club Car

The De Vere hotel and resort group based in the UK recently completed an order with Club Car for 227 electric vehicles. The order includes 203 Precedent i2 golf cars plus a range of turf utility vehicles and Café Express mobile refreshment vehicles. The De Vere real estate portfolio consists of 11 golf properties and 16 courses.  Club Car management points to deal as a sign of continuing growth in the demand for golf cars in the European golf market where historically the number of golfers that want to ride golf cars has been a minority.  Learn more:  Todaysgolfer.co.uk

News Briefs

Applied Geo Technologies Wins Club Car Supplier Award – Applied Geo Technologies recently received the 2011 Overall Operations Excellence Award from Club Car. The company supplies Club Car with cabling and wiring harnesses for all of Club Car’s golf, transportation and utility vehicles.  Learn more:  Cisionwire.com

Garia Review – Last week the Los Angeles Times published a short review of the Garia LSV.  Learn more:  LATimes.com

Tata Motors Launches Two Light Commercial Vehicles – Today Tata Motors launched the passenger carrier Magic Iris and a micro truck the Ace Zip.  Both vehicles are for India’s domestic market.  The vehicles are lesser versions of the Ace Magic and Ace respectively.  The company plans to launch CNG powered variants in the future.  Learn more:  Business-Standard.com

News Briefs

Florida’s First All Electric Car & Truck Dealership Opens – Suncoast Electric Vehicles recently opened in St. Petersburg, FL.  The all electric vehicle dealership carries the Wheego Whip and a line of Vantage vans and trucks.  Learn more:  PRLog.org

Deland, FL Uses Stimulus Funds For LSVs - DeLand, FL was selected for an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant, part of the fedreal stimulus money intended to reduce fuel emissions and energy use.  The city is using part of the $1.2 million in grant money to purchase five LSVs to replace fossil fuel driven vehicles in the city’s fleet.  Learn more:  News-journalonline.com

Club Car Custom Designs Help Fight Cancer – As part of a fund-raising effort for the local chapter of the American Cancer Society, Club Car has hired a local artist to create custom paint designs on Club Car golf cars and utility vehicles.  The design for each vehicle relate to the business making a donation and the vehicle will be displayed at the business during Masters Week.  Club Car matches each business donation.  Afterward the vehicles will be sold through Club Car’s dealer network to anyone interested in purchasing them.   Learn more:   Chronicle.augusta.com

Ingersoll Rand Reports Earnings

Ingersoll Rand, parent company of Club Car, announced 4Q 2010 and full year earnings.

The company’s reported revenues increased 13 percent to $3,712 million, compared with revenues of $3,281 million for the 2009 fourth quarter. Total revenues excluding currency were up 14 percent, compared with 2009. … Full-year 2010 net revenues were $14,079 million, and increased 7 percent compared with reported net revenues of $13,102 million in 2009. Operating income for 2010 totaled $1,247 million, an increase of 43 percent compared with $872 million in 2009.

Relative to the rest of the company, Club Car underperformed.

Club Car revenues increased slightly compared with the fourth quarter of 2009, as increased sales for both golf cars and aftermarket were partially offset by declines in utility vehicles. Bookings declined due to slowing demand in the North American golf market and more difficult year-over-year comparisons.

Learn more:  IEWY.com

Club Car Recall

Club Car is voluntarily recalling approximately 5,000 Model 2010 DS golf cars and hospitality, utility and transport vehicles because the brake pedal can crack and separate, resulting in a loss of braking ability.  Two incidents have been reported but no injuries.  The vehicles were sold between April and July 2010.  Club Car is contacting customers directly and will inspect and replace brake pedals for free.  For more information, contact Club Car at (800) 227-0739, ext. 3580 between 8 a.m and 5 p.m. ET or go to the firm’s website at www.clubcar.com (pdf).  Learn more:  CPSC.gov