Utility ATV Sales Have Buoyed up The Overall European Market for Quad Bikes

UNIT sales of utility ATVs in the UK have buoyed up the overall European market for quad bikes during the last six years. However, the market for all types of quad fell from 115, 000 units in 2005 to about 60, 000 units in 2011 - a lesser pro-rata fall than the American market - according to figures put forward by Suzuki GB during a briefing at the company’s Milton Keynes headquarters. However, Suzuki sales and marketing manager Gareth Lumsdaine claimed the marque’s 10.68 per cent share of the UK market was the highest it has ever been and sights were set on 15 per cent within three years. He also maintained the range of ATVs was good enough to give the company a 25 per cent share in the long-term (10 years). The focus was on getting potential customers to simply try a Suzuki. One novel way of doing this was providing participating dealers with a courtesy ATV to offer customers having their own bike - of any make - serviced at the dealership. Mr Lumsdaine said there would be a place for a Suzuki side-by-side on the UK market, alongside the ‘competition’, should the manufacturer chose to introduce one. But he cautioned the depreciation on these machines could be significantly more than a conventional quad, and servicing costs were also higher. He also believed ever-improving battery technology could see an electric ATV in the range at some stage - “but again this is something we do not know right now. ” Prices of new Suzuki ATVs went up by an average 3 per cent on April 1 - the first increase for two years. Source: farmersguardian.com