Kawasaki Adds Special Graphic Edition Packages for Teryx 750 FI 4×4

Kawasaki has added four special edition graphic packages for their 2010 Teryx 750 FI 4×4.

These unique new immersion graphics packages offer a unique diamond plate pattern that is chemically bonded to colored basecoat paint.  The finished product offers a durable, high-gloss, automotive quality surface that looks similar to anodized aluminum diamond plate, but is actually smooth to the touch and easy to clean.

The graphic packages are available in Diamond Blue, Diamond Red, Diamond Silver and Diamond Black and increases the color options for the Teryx recreation utility vehicle to ten in total.  Learn more:  UTVWeekly.com

Columbia ParCar Wins U.S. Army Order For Nearly 800 LSVs

Columbia ParCar recently announced that they have won an order to supply 799 LSVs for the US Army.  The LSVs will be used at 47 US Army installations in the US and Puerto Rico and are part of a three year plan to purchase 4,000 LSVs.  The plan calls for 800 LSVs to be acquired in 2009, 1,600 in 2010 and another 1,600 in 2011.  The vehicles will be  used for passenger transport, security patrol, maintenance and delivery services.  According to Columbia ParCar’s Scott Breckley, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, “438 vehicles are four-passenger models and the remaining 361 units are utility vehicles capable of transporting two passengers and cargo.” Learn more:  Columbia ParCar

Comment: This order is another example of the growing importance of the military segment for LSVs and utility vehicles.  Kawasaki and Polaris have previously won contracts to supply utility vehicles and the Army’s LSV program represents a significant chunk of the LSV market.  For utility vehicles, vehicle performance in specific field applications and favorable price points compared to previous vehicle options available is driving demand.  Polaris, according to their latest presentation to investors, considers the military segment a significant new market development initiative in their global market strategy.  For the LSVs, the military is replacing more expensive larger vehicles and saving on fuel costs, while still being able to perform the necessary tasks. – Marc Cesare

More Layoffs As Kawasaki Waits For The Good Times To Roll Again

On Monday Kawasaki Motors announced more layoffs as their consumer products division is reorganized. According to management the layoffs affect approximately 25% of the division’s office and support staff. the division produces all terrain vehicles, utility vehicles and personal watercraft and recently laid off about 300 employees. Learn more: Kolnkgin.com

Kawasaki Layoffs Finalized

Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing laid off 320 employees last week following an earlier buyout offer to workers in their consumer products division, which produces their utility vehicles and other products.  Management reported that nearly all the layoffs were the result of voluntary acceptance of the buyout.  As a result, the consumer products workforce at the Lincoln, NE location has been reduced by 25% to approximately 900 workers.

Kawasaki’s consumer products division reported a sales decline of 22% for the fiscal year ending in March.  This is on par with first quarter declines recently reported by Polaris Industries and Arctic Cat.  Learn more:  Journalstar.com

Kawasaki To Cut Workforce

According to a press release from Kawasaki Motors, 320 employees at their Lincoln, NE plant are being offered buyouts.  Besides utility vehicles, the plant produces all-terrain vehicles, personal watercraft and other leisure  vehicles.  The buyout offer follows the laying off of 170 employees in January of this year.  The press release states that, “Kawasaki is experiencing increased inventory levels due to rapidly declining sales”.  Management also remaked that the plant has been operating on short weeks since the beginning of the year.  Learn more   omaha.com

Consumer Product Safety Commission Investigates UTVs

According to a story in the Wall Street Journal, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission(CPSC) has started an investigation into UTVs like the Yamaha Rhino and similar vehicles from other manufacturers. There have been 30 deaths reported involving the Rhino and the company has had more than  200 lawsuits filed against it related to the vehicle. There currently aren’t any safety standards for these type of vehicles  because they are essentially a new class of vehicle. According to the article:

They aren’t subject to ATV safety standards because of design differences such as having a steering wheel, in contrast to the ATVs’ handlebars. But the novel off-road vehicles also aren’t subject to the much-tougher standards for cars. Owners of UTVs don’t have to register them.

“When there is no standard in place, we have to basically determine if there’s a substantial risk of injury and death, and there’s a hurdle there that has to be met,” says Jay Howell, acting assistant executive director of the CPSC’s office of hazard identification and reduction.

This is how consumer regulation often works: Products hit the market governed by no particular safety standards. If injury reports later arise concerning a product, these gradually get the attention of both manufacturers and regulators — often with a spur from lawyers for those injured.

Based on figures provided by Power Sports Marketing for the article, approximately 150,000 Rhinos have been sold since 2003. Yamaha incurred a charge of $136 million in 2007 related to potential product liability expenses. Last month, most of the leading manufacturers of UTVs (Arctic Cat, BRP, Honda, Kawasaki, Polaris, and Yamaha) started the Recreational Off Highway Vehicle Association which has put out a set of safety rules and received ANSI accreditation to develop standards for the vehicles which they now refer to as Recreational Off-highway Vehicles (ROV).