Snowmobile sales

[iahacker]

I was at the local snowmobile dealer Friday to order some parts for the SRX. The dealer used to sell all four brands. I was checking out the new Yamahas and Ski-Doos and asked if they had any new Polaris or Arctic Cats. The owner said they dropped Polaris and Arctic Cat because they couldn't sell them and it was costing them too much to remain dealers. He also said there were about 9 other dealers in Iowa who got out of Artic Cat and similar for Polaris this year. He wasn't aware of any closings for Yamaha or Ski-Doo so far. I had heard last year of 14 Arctic dealers closing in Wisconsin.

Anyone know what the:
Sales numbers are?
Market share is for each brand?
If any are struggling financialy?

Just curious how the industy is doing.

 

[Bakemono]

Cat recently announced they are shutting down one of their plants. I think its in South Dakota and makes the hoods and upholsters the seats. They are basically moving everything to Minneapolis, MN.
Heres Cat's stock info: http://www.nyse.com/about/listed/lcddata.html?ticker=acat&fq=D&ezd=1Y&index=5
$17.88 per share
Heres Polaris: http://www.nyse.com/about/listed/pii_news.html
$48.57 per share
Heres Yamaha: http://stocks.us.reuters.com/stocks/overview.asp?symbol=7272.T&WTmodLOC=L2-LeftNav-8-Overview (that was the best I could do unless you know how to read Japanese)
3,130 Yen per share (about $26.79 per share)
Heres BRP: http://investing.reuters.co.uk/Stocks/Quote.aspx?ticker=BBDb.TO
$5.92 CAD per share
I know that Cat is really struggling right now. The Twin Spar sleds arent very popular because of how heavy they are. Theres lots of Cat dealers who have many leftover sleds.
I dont think Doo is doing much better. Yes, they are #1 in sales, but the dealers around here have A LOT of leftover sleds and you can bet that with the new Rev XP that the dealers are going to have to seriously reduce the prices to sell the old sleds.
Polaris seems to be doing OK now. They fixed a lot of the problems they have and other the the IQ Turbo (previously known as the FST, same sled though) they dont really make any bad sleds.
As for Yamaha, despite their fairly known stock value, they are a huge company and I dont foresee them being in financial trouble. Last I heard they were #1 in motorcycle sales, #2 in ATV sales and #2 in snowmobile sales.
I dont really know how to find marketshare or sales info for all the brands. Id bet that with the poor winters we have had for the last 3 years that they are all down though. I honestly wouldnt be surprised to see 1 of the 4 manufacturers pull out of the market. My guess is it would be either Cat or Polaris.

 

[SRXer]

Cat is quite strong in the ATV market, but I agree, their new sleds don't do much for me from a looks or design/weight standpoint. Dealers are hurting almost everywhere from several factors including poor economic situations in many areas, and poor winters, some repetitive in areas. I know the one of the closer Yammie dealers to me just announced they have dropped at least Yammie sleds, not sure on the ATV's. (A&W Recreation), and the one that is actually the closest won't touch sleds period. At least they will order parts for me when I need them. The industry needs a good solid, decent length snow season, that will not solve all the woes by any means, but would help.
Lot of other factors in play, at least in Ontario, with sled prices high, insurance/permits having gone up a lot the last few years, fuel costs for riding and trailering, etc, etc. And lots of people do not have the disposable income for 2 sets of toys, and are opting to go the ATV route due to the amount of use they get from them.

 

[shortstop20]

The plant that Arctic Cat shut down was in Madison, South Dakota.

A local dealer in Mitchell, South Dakota just dropped Arctic Cat as well.

 

[marty f]

snow

i can guarantee you its because lack of snow everyone i knew had a sled in the early 90's but now you ask them and they all say i sold it because i was only able to ride it a couple times a season(especially in minnesota)and they did not want a payment on something they could not ride

if we had a normal season for a change sales would go up alot

 

[bluemonster1]

I can see that being true.We are supposed to get a mild winter out here.The long range don't look so good for any snow soon.What is GOING on with the weather.Gobal warming ....sucks all the way.We used to get snow by the end of October many years ago.Now we are looking at above normal conditions.All this means is we don't get to ride much before Xmas,and the ice doesn't freeze good or properly.That is why I am keeping my 2 sleds.Couldn't see myself putting out cash or payments for a 4-stroke that just sits in the garage.

 

[marty f]

i agree

i agree about paying for a four stroke

 

[cos in alaska]

Winter has begun!

 

[cougar1985]

are those the new snowmoboats??

 

[mod-it]

Artic Cat is very popular here in the Pacific Northwest. Their M series perform very well in the mountain riders market. I do see a lot more doo's than any other sled, with Artic Cat being second. Hardly any new Polaris's, but many older ones with the edge chassis (Vertical Escapes, Vertical Edges, RMK's). Actually see very few Yami's. I really enjoy hearing a group of people sitting at the bottom of a hill climb slamming Yami's because they are "so heavy", and then taking my sled up to the level that every other sled is reaching or higher (except the mile long tracked sleds, can't expect a 144 to run with the 159/162's). I just ignore them. It goes without saying Yami's dependability. I was raised on them, and it's hard to go with "brand X" when I know what kind of reliability comes with it.

 

[A K MtnViper]

I think the #1 problem all dealers are facing is the hot new models they get 1 for every 5-10 dogs they order. If they wont buy models they know wont sell well, they don't get the new good sleds. Yamaha I was told is not so hard on their dealers as the other 3 are. I.E. when Polaris comes out with a hot new 800 Dragon and then tells it's dealers they only get 8 or 10 each even though they could sell a 100, it makes it hard to make a buck.

 

[bluemonster1]

Well my Yamaha dealer told me a story that in 1998 when the SRX,s came out again,they sold over 100 of them.They told me that they never have a problem selling their sleds and at season's end may have 1 or 2 sleds left over,not a whole showroom of them.They are really heavy sellers of motorcycles and quads to.

 

[herff]

Here's one look at US Sales versus snowfall in the UP of MI. It doesn't look like overall US sales correlates to the snowfall amounts in the UP. Granted UP snowfall does not represent US snowfall, but an interesting note to look at at any rate.