Ransomes Jacobsen to Import Mega Trucks into UK

Ransomes Jacobsen has signed an agreement with Axiam Mega to become the sole importer into the UK of the Mega Professional line of eco-friendly utility trucks.  The product line includes the Mega e-Worker electric truck and Multitruck 600 low emission diesel truck.  Ransomes will continue distributing to the current network of Mega dealers in the UK and expects to expand distribution as well.  Both company’s management see synergies between the Mega product line and the golf cars and utility vehicles sold under the E-Z-GO and Cushman brands.  Learn more:  Pitchcare.com

Kymco CEO Joins E-Z-GO Team

Eric Bondy, the President and CEO of KYMCO USA since 2004, has joined E-Z-GO as Vice President, Consumer Value Stream.  In his new position he will be responsible for strategy development and execution, worldwide sales, marketing, product development and channel development for a wide range of vehicles including Bad Boy Buggies, E-Z-GO’s Terrain and Express lines of UTVs, the Freedom line of personal golf cars, and the 2Five line of LSVs.

Learn more:  Motorsportsnewswire.wordpress.com

E-Z-GO Developments

Towards the end of last year E-Z-GO initiated a rebranding of some of their product lines.  They introduced their Terrain line of vehicles for what management describes as “trail-utility” applications and their Express line of vehicles for “trail-leisure” applications.  The Terrain line consists of the Terrain 250 and 1000 in gas and electric configurations and the Terrain 500 and 1500 in gas only configurations.  The Express line consists of the L4, S4, L6 and S6 models which all come in gas or electric versions.  One dealer’s website describes the Terrain line being for cargo and the Express line being for people.

From my understanding the old E-Z-GO ST product line has been rebranded as E-Z-GO Terrain & Express models, and as the Cushman Hauler models, and some as Bad Boy Buggies.  While the guts of the vehicles have not been changed substantially, the front body panel, the cowl, headlights and canopy top have been changed and the top supports are beefier as well.

E-Z-GO's Exceed Hybrid Technology Range Extender

E-Z-Go has also introduced a range extender technology for their Freedom RXV golf car and 2Five LSV.  The Exceed Hybrid Technology™ is a fully integrated supplemental power source which can extend the range of these vehicles up to 150 miles based on E-Z-Go’s test results.  The Exceed features a 6 hp, 205 cc gas generator which can recharge the batteries on the fly and provides a 400-watt power source for charging electronic devices.  System controls and the power source outlet are located on the dashboard.  The generator fits into the vehicle’s bagwell with a custom cover. Learn more:  Ezgo.com

 

E-Z-GO Recall

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in cooperation with E-Z-GO today announced a voluntary recall of nearly 22,000 vehicles which were sold in the first half of 2011 under a number of brands including TXT golf cars, Cushman shuttle vehicles and Bad Boy off-road utility vehicles.  The cause is a defective rack rod ball joint in which “…the threaded end of the rack rod ball joint can break and the ball joint can become displaced, causing the driver to lose steering control.”  According to the CPSC consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed and contact E-Z-GO or an authorized dealer for a free repair. E-Z-GO and E-Z-GO dealers are contacting known owners. E-Z-GO can be contacted at (800) 774-3946 or visit www.ezgo.com.  For specific vehicle models and serial numbers involved in the recall visit the CPSC  website.  Learn more:  CPSC.gov

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

Bad Boy Buggies Production Moves To Georgia

Production of the recently acquired Bad Boy Buggies has moved to E-Z-GO’s manufacturing facilities in Augusta, GA from Natchez, MS.  The same facilities are used to produce E-Z-GO’s Cushman line of industrial vehicles as well as E-Z-GO golf cars, utility vehicles and LSVs.  The move is not a surprise since Bad Boy Buggies previously has had some quality issues and E-Z-GO is known for their manufacturing prowess.  The Augusta plant was

..named one of Industry Week magazine’s top 10 plants in North America in 2009, and also received the Shingo Prize for Operational Excellence, often called “the Nobel Prize of manufacturing,” that same year. The facility is ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified, meaning that it has world-class procedures for manufacturing and environmental protection.

The new location also offers better supply and distribution logistics.  Learn more:  Ammoland.com

Bad Boy Buggies Becomes NASCAR Sponsor

In 2011 Bad Boy Buggies will sponsor both NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series teams at Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI).  Elliott Sadler and Clint Bowyer will drive Bad Boy Buggies branded vehicles in five races.  Bad Boy Buggies was recently acquired by Textron and the sponsorship is a sign that management is moving quickly to take advantage of the resources and connections of their new parent. Previously, Textron’s E-Z-Go subsidiary has sponsored  KHI vehicles in the same NASCAR race series.  Learn more:  Speedwaymedia.com

Company News

Curtis Wins Award For Cab System – Curtis Industries was recently chosen by Car & Driver Magazine to receive the SEMA Global Media Award for the  PathPro SS cab system for the Polaris Ranger UTV.  The year round enclosure can easily mount to the factory installed Roll-Over Protection System.  Learn more:  blog.curtisindustries.net

Case IH Announces UTV Rebate – Effective as of January 1st of this year, Case IH added their Scout utility vehicles to the rebate program program for Iowa Farm Bureau members.  Purchasers of new utility vehicles will be eligible for a $300 rebate.  Learn more:  Iowafarmbureau.com

Kandi Technolgies Trades On NASDAQ Global Market – As of last Monday, January 11th, Kandi Technologies switched from being traded on the NASDAQ Capital Market to the NASDAQ Global Market.  The Chinese exporter of the CoCo LSV as well as gas and electric UTVs, ATVs, go-karts and other small, task-oriented vehicles trades under the symbol KNDI.  Learn more:  Motorsportsnewswire.wordpress.com

E-Z-GO Partners With Dixie Sales Company To Expand Service Network - E-Z-GO has partnered with Dixie Sales Company to offer qualified outdoor power equipment dealers the opportunity to become E-Z-GO authorized sales and service centers.  As such, they will be able to offer parts and accessories for E-Z-GO and Cushman vehicles.  Dixie Sales Company is an independent, full service, value added distributor.  Learn more:  Benzinga.com

Bad Boy Buggies Recall & Acquisition

Recently acquired Bad Boy Buggies announced a large recall to address ongoing acceleration problems with their Classic model.  The recall covers approximately 9,300 vehicles sold from 2003 to 2010 including models involved in a 2009 recall that unsuccessfully attempted to solve the same problem. The vehicles can accelerate without warning and have led to some injuries.  Learn more:  CPSC.gov

Bad Boy Buggies was acquired by E-Z-Go in October 2010 and now operates as BB Buggies, Inc.  Given the extent of the recall and assuming management new the recall was imminent, being acquired may have been the only recourse for the company.  For E-Z-Go the vehicle line adds a 4-by-4 electric platform to their extensive product line.  In our discussion with executives about the acquisition they remarked that they see potential in the platform beyond its current positioning as primarily a hunting vehicle.  In local newspaper reports E-Z-Go management has stated that for now they will be keeping manufacturing facilities in the Natchez, MS but will be analyzing the best course of action in the future.  Bad Boy Buggies CEO Skrabo noted the top-notch engineering and manufacturing facilities E-Z-Go brings to the situation.  Learn more:  Chronicle.augusta.com

E-Z-GO News

E-Z-Go Offers Camo Pattern – E-Z-GO is now offering a mossy oak camouflage pattern for some of their ST model UTVs.

Several Mossy Oak patterns, including Break-Up, Shadow Grass, Obsession, Duck Blind and Bottomland, are available as options on the E-Z-GO ST Sport 2+2, ST 400 and ST 480 trail-utility vehicles. Owners of existing E-Z-GO ST vehicles also can upgrade their trucks with bodies and cowls in Mossy Oak camouflage patterns.

Learn more:  Ammoland.com

Textron Sells E-Z-GO Distribution Finance Program – TCF Inventory Finance recently announced plans to purchase Textron Financial Corporation’s E-Z-GO distribution finance program.  The subsidiary of Wayzata-based TCF National Bank currently provides financing programs to retailers in the consumer electronics, household appliances, and lawn and garden industries in the US and Canada.  Learn more:  TCBmag.blogs.com