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Gas Crisis and Prospect of War Give Life to Scooter Industry Dead Season
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Top level
Scooter Related News
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Author: N/A
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Publishing date: 03.03.2003 12:02
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February 2003
Miami, FL---Malaguti USA, the US importer for Europe’s third largest scooter manufacturer, has reported a sales increase of over 200% from last winter. Executives believe that the rising cost of gas has driven up the sale of scooters for the young Miami based motorcycle firm.
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According to a February 18th report by USA Today, gas prices have risen above $2 a gallon for regular self-serve in many places across the country. Experts are attributing a possible war with Iraq (which would curtail oil shipment from there) and the lowest U.S. stockpiles of commercially available crude oil since 1975 for pushing fuel prices up.
With scooters getting upwards of 70 miles per gallon, Americans are beginning to take notice to this inexpensive reliable source of transportation. “Americans are starting to catch on to what Europeans have known for years,” commented Malaguti USA president Joel Martin. “High gas prices have been a reality abroad for decades. People have adjusted their lifestyles accordingly.”
In Italy (home of Malaguti), scooter sales exceed over 400,000 annually. The Motorcycle Industry Council reports scooter sales in the US to be around 60,000. Although small sales in comparison with European markets, a 38% increase in sales in 2002 has made scooters the largest growth sector of the powersports industry in the US.
“What we’re seeing is that people who never had an interest in scooters are making there way into local dealerships and asking about saving money on their daily commute. It makes sense,” says Martin.
The last time the US saw growth in scooter sales to this proportion was during the seventies’ oil crisis. “There was a point where Malaguti was spending more money on air-shipping the vehicles then what the vehicles were actually worth. The demand was unreal.” Comments Martin.
During what is typically their dead season, the staff at Malaguti USA is working diligently, stocking up on a wide range of scooter models and colors for the spring and summer. Martin explains, “We’re preparing for history to repeat itself.”
Malaguti USA is the exclusive North American Distributor for Malaguti SPA. After 70 years of leading the European scooter market, Malaguti Motorscooters entered the US in January of 2001. Malaguti SPA, based in Italy, has four manufacturing facilities in the Bologna region producing a wide range of Motorscooters from 49cc to 400cc. The family owned and operated company currently produces the most exclusive and elite vehicles on the scooter market. Its limited production run and unique styling gives Malaguti its reputation for being the most desirable scooter in the world today. For more information go to www.MalagutiMoto.it or call 1-866-MALAGUTI.
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External Source
Source Name:
Malaguti USA, Inc.
Source URL:
http://www.malagutiusa.com/press/public/2003/february/gas_crisis.asp
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