KTM Shows New Product, Reveals ATV Plans
KTM dealers, company representatives and officials assembled in Columbus, Ohio, this week for the manufacturer’s annual dealer meeting and demo ride.
Held Aug. 21-23, the event – titled “Mid-Ohio. The crossroad of off-road” – attracted more than 400 dealers from the United States and Canada. Attendees inspected the company’s new line of XC bikes and expanded selection of supermoto models, picked up tips via a number of educational seminars, and learned more about KTM’s newly formed relationship with Minnesota-based Polaris.
While dealers were again disappointed to miss out on the 990 Super Duke – available in Europe as a 2005 model – new product to be expected for North America includes an expanded SMC line-up, headed by the 950 Supermoto; a 250 SX-F; 105 SX; and the eight model XC line, ranging from a 200 XC to a 525 XC.
A 990cc road bike should be available in the U.S. in 2007, Winfried Kerschhaggl, KTM’s director of strategic product planning, told Powersports Business. Asked about KTM’s schedule for an ATV, he said plans call for product to be available by 2006.
Educational seminars at the event included sessions such as “Profiting with KTM: the Five Profit Centers”; “Customer Service: Working with KTM”; “Hard Equipment & OEM Parts Features and Benefits”; and “The Orange Sales Process with Gart Sutton & Associates.”
Polaris representatives in attendance were flanked by a selection of product – an ATV, snowmobile, Ranger utility vehicle and Victory motorcycle – and fielded questions regarding company and offerings.
“We had quite a bit of interest from KTM dealers,” Mark Blackwell, Victory general manager, told Powersports Business. “There already are quite a few dealers in the U.S. carrying both brands, but this certainly allowed us to get in closer contact with many of the KTM retailers who want to learn more about us.”
Read the September 5 edition of Powersports Business magazine for more about KTM and it plans for the future.
