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Search Engine Traffic: Countyimports on top!
If you look at this chart you can see that San West's online store countyimports.com is the place to go for Scooters, Mopeds, Dirt Bikes and ATVs at the moment! Hope they can keep it up and generate a new sales record!
Countyimports.com
Here some of the hardest competitors:
scooterdepot.us
evosales.com
happyscooters.com
tomaliscooters.com
I would be interested too! Thanks
steveking[at sign]reflex.at
Electric Bike, Cycle, and Scooter Sales
Electric bike, scooter, and cycle sales continue to charge ahead. Manufacturing and sales statistics at this time are inconsistent, varying widely with the source. We have attempted to capture the trends by sifting through and analyzing the sources. Please report any inconsistencies.
There were somewhere near 29 million sales in 2011. It is not possible to summarize the hundreds of specific models on this page. Sales of electric bikes, scooters, and cycles are combined and reported as eBikes here. The bulk of sales are electric bicycles.
China both produces and consumes over 90% of eBikes. Approximately 27,000,000 or so eBikes were sold in that country in 2011. Roughly 29.5 million eBike units were manufactured in China.
The next largest consumer outside of Southeast Asia is Europe with just over 1 million units sold in 2011. France and Germany lead the way, with the much smaller Dutch population simply soaking up eBikes.
The USA continues to grow in eBike use. The forecast trend is for eCycles and eScooters to increase in sales due to their higher power and speeds. Japanese eBikes have been consistently brisk there. The wild card is the 380,000 or so units distributed in other countries.
http://www.evsroll.com/Electric_Vehicle_Sales.html
My Personal San West (SNWT) Outlook:
2011 the management spent all their energy cleaning up and restructuring San West in order to reinforce their relationship with county imports, eradicates wasted overhead and loss-leaders, and get the company running lean and streamlined.
I expect 2012 the focus will be on Growth and Expansion, and dedicated to building on their fundamentals to increase sales.
San West processed a gross of $2,500,000 in sales, but what little profit they made went into cleaning up debt. Let’s say they can (at least) double... and hopefully triple their sales for 2012!
Just by doubling sales they will be able to eliminate the majority of their short term debt. If San West can triple their sales, they will be able to virtually eliminate all long term debt of their books and balance sheets as well... and would be operating completely debt free!
If this assumption vindicates 2013 will be OUR year where everything is cleaned up and this should add value to the company on the stock side.
Summarized:
2011: Cost-Cutting Program
2012: Debt-Reduction Program
2013: Profit-Participation Program
Just my opinion – do your own DD. Good Luck to all!
@rjhstock: Happy New Year to YOU! As an admin I would like to send you an e-mail - would you be so nice to send me your adresse (pm)? THX SteveKing (I'm not registered so I cann't send any private messages...)
2011 Sales Summary
As happens each year, the FCAI releases a summary of the previous years sales across all forms of the industry.
Motorcycle sales in Australia continued to grow significantly in the final months of 2011, according to official figures released today by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI).
A total of 109,067 new motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and scooters were delivered to customers during the full year 2011, an increase of 3226 motorcycles (or growth of 3.0 per cent).
31,938 motorcycles were delivered in the fourth quarter alone (between October and December), compared with 26,750 in the third quarter.
FCAI chief executive Ian Chalmers said the recovery of motorcycle sales was encouraging given some recent years of soft sales nationwide.
“While sales of road and off-road motorcycles have remained reasonably static throughout the year, scooter and all-terrain vehicle segments have continued their impressive growth again this year,” he said.
“The 18.4 per cent growth in ATV sales is somewhat indicative of the recovery of rural economies nationwide, where these motorcycles are most popular.
“8.9 per cent growth in scooter sales continues to highlight the popularity of these modes of personal transport, as motorists seek to avoid high petrol prices and increasingly congested metropolitan roads,” he said.
A total of 22,428 ATVs were sold in 2011, up 18.4 per cent (or 3486 units).
More than one in five motorcycles sold last year was an ATV.
The scooter segment finished the year with 11,374 sales, up 8.8 per cent (or 929 scooters).
Sales of road bikes recovered strongly in the fourth quarter, finishing the year 1.4 per cent ahead of 2010 with 38,628 sales.
The only segment not to grow in 2011 was off-road motorcycles, with sales volumes declining4.5 per cent (1735 sales).
Happy New SNWT Year 2012!
I'm still a shareholder. Hope this will be a good year and the breakthrough for San West.
The increase in Search Engine Traffic at Countyimports.com is really amazing and I hope they can convert it into money.
Communication to investors is very bad at the moment. Hope they really take care of the shareholder. Awaiting news the next days and as bigboyjones said also a reverse with buy back and promo could bring that thing on the way back up.
After the cost cutting program the last year, 2012 has to be the first positiv year! Keep on smiling.
Good Luck to all!
INCREDIBLE: The total number of e-motorcycles and e-scooters on the road, worldwide, will increase from 17 million in 2011 to 138 million by 2017.
Source: Pike Research
E-Cycle,E-Scooter Sales Forecast to Rise Sharply in No. America
BOULDER, Colo. -- While two-wheeled transport remains the primary means of transport for millions of people in China and other parts of Asia Pacific, most consumers in North America and Europe have remained committed to their passenger cars. Now, however, high petroleum costs, improved customer perception, and government incentives are all contributing to a growing demand for motorcycles and scooters -- including those powered by electricity. Particularly in areas where the population is increasingly moving into cities, where large vehicles are often impractical and expensive to own, operate, and park, density has become a driving force for the e-motorcycle and e-scooter markets. According to a recent report from Pike Research, sales of these vehicles will rise sharply in Europe and North America over the next six years.
In Western Europe, for example, annual sales of e-motorcycles will essentially double each year through 2017, the cleantech intelligence firm says, with some countries, such as Italy and France, seeing compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) of greater than 120%. The nations of Eastern Europe will see even more explosive growth, with e-motorcycle sales increasing by 138% annually from 2011 through 2017. CAGRs for e-motorcycles in North America will surpass 71%.
"For now, sales numbers are low, but manufacturers of two-wheeled electric vehicles are finding specialty niches that will provide solid growth early on in the next decade," says senior analyst Dave Hurst. "E-scooters, for example, are effective for small parcel deliveries, while police forces are gravitating toward e-motorcycles to save money on fuel."
By far the largest market for e-motorcycles and e-scooters is China, where Pike Research forecasts that 2.3 million and 13.5 million vehicles, respectively, will be sold by 2017. This growth is driven by the huge existing market for two-wheeled vehicles and by the fact that many e-scooters are sold as bicycles, so they do not have to be registered. China, however, is a relatively mature market; the CAGR for e-motorcycle sales through 2017 will be under 2% and, for e-scooters, under 5%.
The total number of e-motorcycles and e-scooters on the road, worldwide, will increase from 17 million in 2011 to 138 million by 2017.
Pike Research's study, "Electric Motorcycles and Scooters", provides a comprehensive examination of the market forces, technology issues, government incentives and regulations, and key drivers of the growth of e-motorcycles and e-scooters. The report includes e-motorcycle and e-scooter sales forecasts and battery technology forecasts through 2017, as well as profiles of key industry players. An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the firm's website.
SNWT: share structure:
Common stock, no par value, 300,000,000 shares authorized; issued and outstanding 221,202,859 and 192,742,859 at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.
~ 50% Beneficial Owners!
"Like"-Button on Countyimports.com
Press the button and tell your friends that you are confident with http://www.countyimports.com !!!!
Click the "Like"-Button, immediately!
BMS 150cc GO KART Review Sales – 150cc Go Kart for Sale – CountyImports.com
DELIVERED ANYWHERE IN THE USA. www.countyimports.com A fully automatic 150cc gokart with reverse! If any of you have really been shopping around, you know how hard to find this item really is, fully automatic and built to take a beating. BUT what this 150cc Buggy offers is like no other and gives complete control to the driver! Don’t forget how fast, fun and safe this Go Kart is either! Now, don’t you wish you had one of these when you were a kid? If you did, then you know how many memories you still have to this day from that little gesture! Full roll cages make this a sure bet when enjoying safe some family fun! Did we mention its a two seater AND you can adjust the seat forward and back to fit just right!?
Video and Information:
http://kartsgo.com/bms-150cc-go-kart-review-sales-150cc-go-kart-for-sale-countyimports-com/
Total Revenue 2010: 2,729,000!
Actual Marketcap: 660,000. SNWT is heavy undervalued. I'm still waiting for the 1st positive quarter. Hope to see it in 2011 and this will change the direction. Go San West go!
2011 U.S. scooter sales improved by 28.9%
July 30, 2011 - (Various Sources, Edited by webBikeWorld) - U.S. motorcycle sales improved slightly in the first half of 2011 when compared to the same period in 2010. a
Motorcycle and scooter sales in the second quarter of 2011 rose 1.7%. Dual-sport sales improved by 13%; scooter sales improved by 28.9% and sportbike sales rose 3.3%. Off-road motorcycle sales continued a decline, down 17%. Overall sales were down 4.6% in Q2 and down by 1.6% in the month of June.
Dual Sport motorcycles and scooter sales were up significantly.
2011 U.S. Motorcycle Sales - January to June 2011
Dual Sport 15,876 Units (2010: 14,045). Up 1,831 (13%)
Off Road 37,123 Units (2010: 44,673). Down 7,550 (-16.9%)
Street Bikes 187,565 Units (2010: 181,542). Up 6,023 (3.3%)
Scooter 18,198 Units (2010: 14,122). Up 4,076 (28.9%)
Totals 258,762 Units (2010: 254,382) Up 4,380 (Approx. 1.0%)
SEMRush update: Google SE Traffic up again
Jan 2011: 8594
Feb 2011: 9885
Mar 2011: 12655
Apr 2011: 14215
May 2011: 17535
Jun 2011: 21757
Jul 2011: 27011
http://www.semrush.com/info/history/index.html?domains[]=countyimports.com>ype=1&db=us#domains:countyimports.com;type:1;db:us
Q2 result almost here! Don't miss it! Go SNWT go
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
As of December 31, 2010, we have authorized 300,000,000 shares of common stock, no par value, of which 192,742,859 shares were issued and outstanding and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, no par value, of which 77,100 shares are issued and outstanding. The following table sets forth certain information regarding beneficial ownership of our common stock as of December 31, 2010, by (i) each person known by us to be the beneficial ownership of more than 5 percent of the outstanding common stock, (ii) each director, (iii) each executive officer, and (iv) all executive officers and directors as a group. The number of shares beneficially owned is determined under the rules promulgated by the SEC, and the information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Under those rules, beneficial ownership includes any shares as to which the individual has sole or shared voting power or investment power and also any shares which the individual has the right to acquire within 60 days of the date hereof, through the exercise or conversion of any stock option, convertible security, warrant or other right. Those shares, however, are not deemed outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. Including those shares in the tables does not, however, constitute an admission that the named stockholder is a direct or indirect beneficial owner of those shares. Unless otherwise indicated, each person or entity named in the table has sole voting power and investment power (or shares that power with that person's spouse) with respect to all shares of capital stock listed as owned by that person or entity.
Common Stock Beneficially Owned (2)
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner (1)
Frank J. Drechsler 30,011,780 14.93%
Vladimir Cood 18,740,623 9.32%
Gemini Master Fund, LTD 24,091,036 (3) 10.70%
Seacoast Advisors, Inc. 25,654,372 (4) 11.52%
Directors, officers and 5% shareholders as a group 98,497,811 39.93%
(1)
Unless otherwise indicated, the address for each of these stockholders is c/o San West, Inc., 10350 Mission Gorge Road, Santee, California 92069. Also, unless otherwise indicated, each person named in the table above has the sole voting and investment power with respect to his shares of our common stock beneficially owned.
(2)
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC. For purposes of calculating the percentage beneficially owned, the number of shares of our common stock deemed outstanding is 200,988,848 as of December 31, 2010 and includes $192,742,859 shares of common stock and 8,245,989 shares of common stock that would result from the conversion of preferred stock.
(3)
Including 24,091,036 shares of common stock underlying convertible debt.
(4)
Including 21,624,501 shares of common stock underlying convertible debt.
As indicated in the table above, our executive officers and directors beneficially own, in the aggregate, 14.93 percent of our outstanding common stock. As a result, these stockholders may, as a practical matter, be able to influence all matters requiring stockholder approval including the election of directors, merger or consolidation and the sale of all or substantially all of our assets. This concentration of ownership may delay, deter or prevent acts that would result in a change of control, which in turn could reduce the market price of our common stock.
You are right, man! With some good news in the Newsletter next week and the upcoming Q2 result we should move one from $0.01!
Can't await to see the first positive quarter!!!
Good Luck to U! Go, SNWT, go!
SteveKing
Carl Davis, President, Fidelity Investments, San Diego, CA
We have Carl Davis listed as the President of Fidelity Investments. Fidelity Investments in San Diego, CA is a private company categorized under Investment Securities. Current estimates show this company has an annual revenue of $1 to 2.5 million and employs a staff of approximately 5 to 9.
Fidelity Investments
418 10th Avenue
San Diego, CA 92101-7202
San Diego, CA Metro Area
Phone: (619) 595-0770
San WEst (SNWT): this stock has been on my bottom scan several times over the last week. I think this stock could post a 100% or better move from today's $.0045 close. I am basing this on nothing more than a chart that, to me, wants to pop higher.
http://thepennystockgurus.com/articles/wednesdays-stocks-to-watch-dryn-tcln-bfhj-snwt/
San West (SNWT) heavily undervalued?!
Market Cap: $ 1.230.000
Revenue 2010: $ 2.729.000 with upward tendendy 2011!
With the Q2 results 08/15 (by the way as SNWT management says the best ever) this should see a nice uptrend! Patience is they key and with some money you should benefit from acutal prices to average down.
Just my opinion - do your own DD!
Good Luck to all!
Scooter sales see 50% boost thanks to high gas prices
By Steven Cole Smith, Orlando Sentinel
In Print: Thursday, June 30, 2011
With gasoline around $3.50 a gallon and used-car bargains scarce, sales of scooters — some of which are rated by the manufacturer at or above 100 miles per gallon — have gone from warm to red-hot, some retailers say.
"Our scooter sales are up about 60 percent over last year," said Ron Marchisotto, sales manager for Varsity Cycle in Fort Lauderdale. Scooter prices range from a suggested list price of $1,399 for a Kymco — a Taiwanese scooter — to just under $7,000 for a top-of-the-line Italian Vespa, Marchisotto said.
Florida's climate makes the state a natural for scooter drivers, but the Sunshine State isn't alone in seeing a spike in sales. According to the Motorcycle Industry Council's first-quarter 2011 sales report, motorcycle sales rose 7.2 percent, but scooter sales rose almost 50 percent. The MIC report includes U.S. sales from only four major scooter manufacturers, so the total increase in scooter sales is likely even greater, especially since the MIC doesn't track the fast-growing Chinese import market.
Three years ago — during the summer of 2008 when Florida's average price of gas soared to a high of $4.08 a gallon on July 16 — scooter sales also increased, compared to 2007. Overall motorcycle sales dropped 7.2 percent in 2008 in the United States, but scooter sales rose 41.5 percent to an estimated record total of 222,000.
Particularly popular with Florida riders are smaller Honda and Yamaha scooters, especially those with engines that are 50 cubic centimeters or less. For those scooters, you only need a regular auto driver's license to operate them. For larger scooters, you'll need a motorcycle endorsement.
Those smaller scooters "are great for commuters who don't have to travel on highways, or just for people who want to run up to the convenience store," said Kirby Mullins, owner of Seminole Powersports in Sanford.
Typical of the two styles of small scooters is the 2011 Honda Ruckus, which has a slightly rugged look, resembling a minibike. The Ruckus has a 49cc one-cylinder, four-stroke engine and weighs just under 200 pounds. Honda rates it at 114 miles per gallon. Top speed, Mullins said, is about 30 mph. Suggested retail price: $2,499. Even Honda calls the Ruckus "a bare-bones example of two-wheel transportation."
The 2011 Yamaha Vino Classic also has a 49cc one-cylinder, four-stroke engine, and it weighs 178 pounds. But the design is a salute to the traditional look of vintage Vespas, the manufacturer most identified with the scooter's "step-through" design, which means you essentially sit on the seat with your feet flat on the floorboard, rather than straddle it like a motorcycle. The Vino Classic, says Yamaha, is rated at 110 mpg, and costs $2,250.
The king of scooters remains Vespa, though. The Italian manufacturer essentially created the modern scooter market just after World War II with the introduction of the original Vespa, Italian for "wasp." Vespa has sold more than 16 million scooters worldwide since it was introduced in 1946.
The user-friendly traits of the original Vespa are the main reason scooters are gaining in popularity: They are more simple to operate than motorcycles, as almost all have automatic transmissions.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/autos/scooter-sales-see-50-boost-thanks-to-high-gas-prices/1177844
Scooter sales surge after two-year slump
Sales of the two-wheeled, fuel-efficient vehicles soared 50% in the first three months of the year as gas prices rose. Experts expect more growth ahead.
By Susan Carpenter, Los Angeles Times
June 30, 2011
Lindsey Miller has only been scootering for a month, but when she puts on her sparkly silver helmet and wheels her orange Genuine Buddy through the streets she's giddy with the rush of takeoff, the wind in her face, the freedom.
"It's just fun," said Miller, a UCLA graduate student of urban planning who bought the motorized scooter in May because — like many others — she could get around more easily on it than on the bus and more cheaply than in a car.
This year U.S. scooter sales have surged after a two-year slump. Sales jumped 50% for the first quarter of 2011 compared with a year earlier, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council, an industry trade group in Irvine. And experts foresee more growth ahead.
Top sellers include models such as the Vespa LX 150, Honda Ruckus, Yamaha Zuma, Suzuki Burgman, Genuine Buddy and Kymco People.
Renewed interest in scooters this year is largely attributable to gas prices, which in California leapt above $4 a gallon before dropping in recent weeks. In 2008, when gas prices last spiked, scooter sales escalated to the highest level ever in the U.S. with 228,000 sold.
Sales plummeted in 2009 and again in 2010, when only 77,000 scooters were sold.
"Every time gas prices fluctuate, there seems to be a big interest in alternative kinds of vehicles of all different types," said Leslie Kendall, curator at L.A.'s Petersen Automotive Museum on Wilshire Boulevard. It recently opened the exhibit Scooters: Size Doesn't Always Matter. Among the 95 scooters on display are a 1917 Autoped and a 1961 Honda 50.
"You can't help but notice there's an awful lot of scooters out there now," he said. "They've evolved to a point where they're truly viable transportation for a lot of people."
That evolution is on display this week with Friday's opening of the Universal Pictures movie "Larry Crowne," starring Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts.
The story of a Navy veteran who loses his job and goes back to college will show 30 scooters from the past and present. Included is the 1983 Yamaha Riva 180 that Hanks' character rides in a suburban scooter posse, along with vintage Vespas, Italjets and Lambrettas.
Popular for a step-through design that allows riders to plant their feet on a floorboard and transmissions that are, for the most part, automatic, scooters are abuzz in increasing numbers on Southern California streets, where riders are embracing them for their thrifty chic.
Available in a variety of styles and sizes, new scooters from reliable brands start at about $3,000. Prices run up to about $9,000.
According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, scooters of 149 cubic centimeters or less are considered motor-driven cycles. Scooters of 150 cubic centimeters and above are motorcycles. Both need to be registered with the state and require an M1 driver's license. Helmets are required.
Matthew Norton has been riding his Yamaha Zuma since 2004.
"I originally got it in high school when I didn't have that much money and I needed some sort of vehicle to get around to my job," said Norton, who is the customer representative at Comics Vs. Toys comic and toy store in Eagle Rock. Norton, 25, spent $2,000 for his scooter, which remains his only form of transportation. He said he averages 70 miles per gallon and needs to fill up his tank every two or three weeks.
"I've had lots of people come up to me on the street when I park and ask what kind of mileage does she get," Norton said of the red scooter he's nicknamed Jessica. "When I see them coming out of their giant SUVs, I have to hold in a laugh."
After scooter shops saw sales shoot up in 2008, "everybody overreacted" and ordered too many scooters for 2009, said Mike Frankovich, owner of NoHo Scooters in North Hollywood. "Just about every scooter manufacturer [expected] gas prices and demand to stay high."
This year, the market is thriving but not like it did in 2008 when customers were buying scooters with their credit cards.
"Not as many people are getting approved for financing," said Frankovich, who counts scooters from Chicago-based Genuine Scooter Co. and the Korean firm Kymco as his top-selling brands.
"We're sold out of scooters," said Jon Seidel, spokesman for American Honda Motor Co. in Torrance. All that's left of Honda's 2011 models are at dealers, he said.
"Scooters are a huge bright spot in light of how the motorcycle industry has struggled the last couple of years," he added. Like scooters, motorcycle sales declined through 2009 and 2010 and have begun to recover only this year.
"Riding a scooter, it's basically changed my life in L.A.," said Miller, the UCLA grad student who has mostly buzzed around the Westside and made her first crosstown trek to Hollywood via scooter Monday.
Along with 100 other scooterists and passengers, Miller participated in a ride organized by the Route 66 dealership on Lincoln Boulevard in Marina del Rey. They made their way to the Los Angeles premiere of "Larry Crowne" at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.
Although Miller is still cautious about major treks, she is buoyant about the possibilities ahead.
"My options of places to go are a lot wider," she said. "I can go anywhere I want."
susan.carpenter@latimes.com
Copyright © 2011, Los Angeles Times
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-scooters-20110630,0,3108776.story?track=rss
Scooter sales skyrocket as drivers try to ease pain at pump
Posted: Jun 30, 2011 10:44 PM
Updated: Jul 01, 2011 12:49 AM
By Melissa Hankins, Reporter
CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - Scooter sales have skyrocketed 50% over the last year, as people continue to look for new ways to save money on gas.
So how much could you save?
Quite a lot, according to scooter lover Christopher Skulkety.
"They're cheap. Seventy plus miles to the gallon," he says.
Skulkety fills up a five gallon gas tank once a month. "And that five gallon gas tank lasts about six weeks, even though I drive it all the time," he says.
And Skulkety says it isn't hard to learn to drive a scooter.
"It doesn't take much to learn. They're really easy to operate," he says. "No gears."
Mike Pierce owns this Vespa shop in South End, and tells his customers to take classes at community colleges.
"We send a lot of people that come in here that know nothing about riding bikes to Central Piedmont to take these courses, and we get nothing but good feedback about it," Pierce says.
Pierce says sales at his shop have picked up dramatically.
"It has definitely gone up since this time last year," he says. "As a matter of fact, we sold probably more scooters in one week than we sold in several months put together last year."
In fact, Skulkety was there looking for new scooters today.
"We want two new ones, we love them," he says.
But he does have one word of caution...the reason for his shopping trip...scooters are so popular right now, his last two were stolen.
"You need to lock them up," Skulkety says. "If you buy a scooter, you need to lock it up."
http://www.wbtv.com/story/15007762/scooter-sales-skyrocket-as-drivers-try-to-ease-pain-at-pump
Scooter sales up after Hanks' film
by Bryan Alexander - Jul. 4, 2011 11:59 AM
USA TODAY
LOS ANGELES -- Tom Hanks' arrival on a beat-up 1981 Yamaha Riva scooter at the Larry Crowne premiere Monday gave a glimmer of hope to the growing subculture of scooter riders across the country.
Could the oft-ridiculed form of transportation become accepted in America's movie-land?
Hollywood has learned to embrace the motorcycle for adventure along with the Prius to save the planet (and for cheaper fuel bills) -- shouldn't the scooter, which encompasses all of these points, now have its place in the spotlight?
With the scooter-heavy Larry Crowne opening Friday, it might be now or never. Hanks, a veritable Mayor of Moped-land, is leading the charge in more ways than one.
"We should all be on these scooters, Los Angeles should look like Taipei," he beamed. "Hey it's dirt cheap and you have the wind blowing through your hair on a beautiful day like today."
Hanks plays a man forced to ride a scooter in tough economic times in his romantic comedy with Julia Roberts. But he backs the role up as a proud owner of $3,200 Genuine Buddy in real life.
His support mirrors a national trend of scooter sales which directly follows the prices of gas. The Motorcycle Industry Council reports that when gas prices spiked in 2008, scooter sales hit an all-time high. Sales are hot again nationally in 2011, up 50 percent in the first quarter year-over-year.
Actors Zach Galifianakis and David Duchovny are just a couple of Hollywood's recent converts to the mode of transportation.
But not everyone in Hollywood is convinced that scooters are practical. Rita Wilson politely declined to join her husband on the ride so she could appropriately bling-out for the premiere. The casually-dressed Hanks, she lovingly pointed out, looked like he was going to be attending "a basketball game."
When asked if a man can still be cool and ride a scooter, Wilson answered carefully as her husband looked on.
"I think you can be scooter cool," she said slowly. "But you have to see beyond the helmet. Not even Brad Pitt looks good in these helmets."
Hanks helmet looks particularly goofy in Larry Crowne. But Philip McCaleb, owner of Chicago's Genuine Scooter who provided scooters for Crowne, says there are far better looking helmets. Hanks was "embracing his inner dork" with his selection, he says.
But still others on the Crowne's red carpet were less diplomatic about scooter's potential to dazzle Tinsel-town. Crowne co-star Rob Riggle pondered for a moment what it would take to get him on a Vespa.
"If I was being chased by some sort of large animal that was faster than me," he finally said, "then yes, absolutely, a Vespa would be an option."
But none of this naysaying could stifle the enthusiastic Hanks from spreading the good word from his premiere bully pulpit. He even tried to convert pal Larry David by shouting across the red carpet about the scooter's ability to maneuver LA's notorious traffic.
"How bad was it on Sunset and the 405 on the way here?" asked Hanks loudly. "You know, you really should have come in a scooter."
David smiled, waved a dismissive hand and walked into the movie. Hanks has his work cut out for him.
Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/business/articles/2011/07/04/20110704scooter-sales-up-after-hanks-film.html
Links:
http://www.countyimports.com
Update: SEMRush Trends Traffic Report for countyimports.com
Traffic soars like a rocket!
Source:
http://www.semrush.com/info/history/index.html?domains[]=countyimports.com>ype=1&db=us
NEWS: San West, Inc. Announces Major Improvements to E-Commerce Business
Surging Online Traffic Is Driving Rising Online Sales and Lower Advertising Costs
SAN DIEGO, CA--(Marketwire - Jun 27, 2011) - San West, Inc. (OTCBB: SNWT), an emerging leader in the motor sports industry, and e-commerce partner www.CountyImports.com are excited to announce major improvements to their online business segment including increased sales and profitability.
Un-audited e-commerce sales for the first three weeks of June 2011 are up approximately 10% over the corresponding period of 2010 and management expects this trend to continue throughout the remainder of the month. On a year-to-date basis, the average purchase order has grown by approximately 9%, from $1,627 in 2011 versus $1,487 in 2010.
Meanwhile, San West's aggressive long-term online marketing strategy continues to bear fruit and has saved the company approximately $27,500 in paid advertising costs thus far in 2011, a figure that management feels can optimistically reach $54,590 by the end of the year. Year-to-date paid advertising costs have decreased approximately 37%, from $74,610.83 in 2010 to $47,120.54 in 2011. The company is also paying approximately 35% less in per unit paid conversion costs thus far in 2011 or $50.55 versus $76 in 2010.
The key driving force behind these improved business trends has been the continued growth of the website's (www.CountyImports.com) online traffic ranking. According to web analytic company Alexa, the website's U.S. traffic ranking has improved nearly 41% on a year-to-date basis as of 6/24/10.
Management notes a significant correlation between its improved online traffic ranking and lower advertising costs in 2011. The company also believes that its ability to attract and a greater amount of natural online traffic could enable www.CountyImports.com to achieve current levels of online sales with zero paid advertising costs, which would save nearly $100,000 in annual costs, if a U.S. traffic ranking of roughly 35,000 is obtained. As of 6/26/11, the website's U.S. Alexa ranking was 71,825.
"Our innovative and aggressive online marketing strategy continues to facilitate our ability to generate a rising flow of natural -- or unpaid -- website traffic and drive significant improvements in our e-commerce business segment. Overall, our online segment has been more profitable in 2011 than in 2010, a development that is opening up new opportunities for future expansion and providing www.CountyImports.com with a unique competitive advantage," commented San West, Inc. CEO Frank Drechsler.
Mr. Drechsler added, "Lower advertising costs are enabling us to provide the highest quality, in-demand products to consumers at the best price points. I believe that this ability, coupled with our world-class sales/service capabilities position our company at the forefront of the motor-sports industry. 2011 is shaping up to be a great year for San West and I look forward to keeping the public apprised of substantial corporate developments as they arise."
StockGuru Spotlights: San West, Inc. (OTCBB: SNWT) – Motor Sports are Popular Attraction June 27, 2011
What is the StockGuru Spotlight?
Many companies covered in The StockGuru Spotlight have positive increases in both volume and share price. While this is not true in all cases, StockGuru strives to cover companies in The StockGuru Spotlight that are worth of our readers’ attention.
StockGuru looks for potential break-out candidates in The StockGuru Spotlight. Many of these companies have had recent news and appear to be getting the attention of investors. StockGuru does not typically feature companies in The StockGuru Spotlight that are compensating StockGuru for this coverage. There are times when StockGuru covers a stock in The StockGuru Spotlight that had previously compensated Stockguru. Where that is the case, a proper disclosure is included below. StockGuru and its partners, employees and writers never hold shares, short positions, warrants or any other current position in a stock featured in The StockGuru Spotlight.
Read the full article about SNWT here:
http://streetresearch.com/2011/06/26/stockguru-spotlights-san-west-inc-otcbb-snwt-%e2%80%93-motor-sports-are-popular-attraction-june-27-2011/
NATIONWIDE Dealers Wanted!
Gas Prices are not stopping here. It's a matter of time before we've hit another gas crisis and we're looking for quality, caring and reputable dealers as candidates to carry our lines of Gas Scooters, ATV's, Go karts and More. We are the first and ONLY to offer a parts and labor warranty with our products. In order to get started and receive more information. When it comes to being a dealer, Countyimports.com and our staff firmly understand your needs directly becasue we too have dealer locations as well. We're involved in every facet of this business and our name is so well known, when you join our team, your joining the largest network in the USA! We treat our dealers with respect and are here to help you grow your business. Lastly, and as strange as it might sound; our staff speak clear english and reside here in the Great country on earth, America! If you're in this business to survive, you know how important that truely is. Please complete the form below. Let's start growing your business, today!
- Zipcode Based Protected Territories
- Automated Parts Departments
- Live Chat Support
- 12 Month Powertrain Warranty Standard
- Only Parts and Labor Warranty Programs Available
- Road Side Assistance Programs
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- Fully Licensed and Bonded National Distributor
- 10 Years of Online Dealer Service Experience
- Most Advanced Platform Available
- Over 250 Models to Chose from
- Full Accessories Support
- Online Sales Direct Program
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- United Stated Based Company
- Clear, easy to understand English Speaking Staff
- Priority Handling
Thank you for your interest in becoming a Countyimports.com Dealer. To begin selling our popular products now, you may
Call us toll free 1-877-868-5828.
NEWS: San West, Inc. Announces Dramatically Increased Traffic From YouTube Channel Popularity
SAN DIEGO, CA--(Marketwire - Jun 24, 2011) - San West, Inc. (OTCBB: SNWT), an emerging leader in the motor sports industry, and e-commerce partner www.CountyImports.com are excited to announce that their company-sponsored YouTube channel is rapidly gaining popularity and making a significant positive impact on sales and profitability.
The channel -- which can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/user/CountyImportsdotCom -- now boasts approximately 70 original instructional and promotional videos and has amassed nearly 256,000 total uploads and more than 24,300 channel views since its initial launch in June of 2010. Monthly upload views are approaching 15,000, a figure that the company expects to grow substantially going forward as the online hub gains traction amongst motorsport enthusiasts.
The burgeoning YouTube portal is driving an average of 500 unique visitors to CountyImports.com each day, which by management's estimates is generating approximately $375 in free targeted advertising per day or roughly $137,000 annually.
"Our business continues to benefit immensely from a diverse set of online traffic streams generated through a variety of means including our thriving YouTube channel, a unique and innovative SEO and keyword marketing strategy, and word of mouth from our rapidly expanding customer base. Our continuous online marketing efforts and dedication to delivering a website that provides helpful tools and engaging content that help consumers find great deals on in-demand products continues to pay dividends and help position www.CountyImports.com as one of the most successful e-commerce motorsports portals on the web," commented San West Inc. CEO Frank Drechsler.
About San West, Inc.
San West is an emerging leader in the off-road vehicle (ORV) industry and operator of the industry leading ORV portal, www.CountyImports.com. The Company's web properties have emerged as the established home for all facets of the ORV industry, including off-road buggies, scooters, ATVs, parts and accessories. San West's retail store locations in Southern California specialize in the design, manufacture, sales and repairs of off-road buggies. Additionally, the retail and online stores provide aftermarket performance products and accessories for off-road buggies and other ORVs. Buggy repair services are sold and fulfilled at the Santee, California retail location. For further information about San West, Inc. visit www.CountyImports.com, www.BuggyNation.com, www.youtube.com/user/CountyImportsdotCom, and www.SanWestInc.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements concerning our business and possible or assumed future results of operations. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements for many reasons including: our ability to continue as a going concern; adverse economic changes affecting markets we serve; competition in our markets and industry segments; our timing and the profitability of entering new markets; greater than expected costs; customer acceptance of our products or difficulties related to our integration of the businesses we may acquire; and other risks and uncertainties as may be detailed from time to time in our public announcements and SEC filings. Although we believe the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, they relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made, and our future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements may not meet these expectations. We do not intend to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this document to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in our expectations, except as required by law. There is no assurance that a definitive agreement will be completed.
San West, Inc. (OTC:SNWT) Promoted Again, or Anticipating the Next PR?
By Violeta Slavtchevska
Date: Jun 21, 2011
Yesterday the share price of San West, Inc. (OTC:SNWT) stock jumped high above all resistances for the past several weeks, forming a suspicious trading pattern. No news has come out since the end of May, thus either the expectation of news or a secret promotion could be behind the jump.
SWNWT closed the market yesterday at $0.0088 with a 10% increase from the previous day. Trading volume reached 14.84 million shares and the session was among the three sessions with the heaviest trading volumes in the past six months.
This last thing by itself, in that case combined with the typical for a promotion spike of the share price and the volume shortly after market open, could be a strong argument in support of some posts on iHub message board that imply the stock has been again covered by some stock promoters.
According to our database, the last promotion for SNWT took place exactly in the days with the heaviest trading activity in the end of March this year. We have not received any promo mails on SNWT since then, and it is also possible that traders expect some new PRs from the company which has been silent for a while.
Latest news came at the end of May. Then, the company filed the quarter report for the three months ended March 2011. It did not show a substantial change in the financial position of the company in comparison with the same period of last year: working capital deficit still goes beyond $1 million. There is a change in the operational performance, however.
The sales have slightly increased, while the total expenses have decreased from $924,000 to $249,000, that decrease being due to the recognition of $642,000 in non-cash stock compensation in 2010 compared to only $73,000 of stock compensation during 2011. Yet, even excluding these factors, the net loss was less than half of that for the period last year.
Source:
http://www.hotstocked.com/article/12112/san-west-inc-otc-snwt-promoted-again-or.html
Majorpennystocks.com Reports on San West Inc (OTC:SNWT)
Company Background
San West Inc (OTC:SNWT) is engaged in designing, manufacturing, selling, and repairing of off road, buggies in California. Based in Santee, California, the company also offers after market performance products and accessories for its buggies. The company manages its primary services outlet in Huntington Beach, California by the name of Letz Go Racing Off Road Center. The respective outlet provides modification parts, accessories and services of off road buggies. The company’s products are mainly manufactured in China.
Technical Analysis
San West Inc (OTC:SNWT) surged 10 percent in its last trading session to $0.0088 with traded volume of 14.84 million shares. The heavy traded volume depicts a strong bullish trend as the share price traded with 558,250 shares per day on average. The company’s total outstanding common stock accumulates up to 227.67 million shares out of which 164.47 million shares are floated in the stock market. Insiders hold almost 51.45 percent of the company’s total outstanding shares.
The share price maintains the beta value of 3.58 times which shows that the SNWT is likely to move by 3.58 times against one point change in market index.
Looking at its price history the share price has been traded within the prices ranges of $0.008 to $0.05 in last one year. This can also be derived from the respective price history that the share price is likely to find support at $0.008 while resistance could be seen at the level of $0.05.
The share price is trading at a relative strength index of 44.89 which shows that the stock has considerable margin for upward movement.
SNWT: Countyimports traffic explodes!
Source:
http://www.semrush.com/info/history/index.html?domains[]=countyimports.com>ype=1&db=us#domains:countyimports.com;type:1;db:us
Q2 will be an other record quarter!
Have a nice day.
SteveKing
San West (SNWT) Newsletter Issue #9
Springtime is here, and things look great as we gear for Summer right around the corner!
First Quarter Financial Results for 2011
Operational and Corporate Highlights
• San West and CountyImports.com launched a variety of new product offerings, including new electric bicycle and electric bicycle kit products, as well as a new series of motorized scooter products and other ORVs, designed to combat rising fuel prices throughout the United States.
• San West, Inc. formed a strategic partnership with RND, a local ATV and Dirt-Bike service and accessory retailer, under which RND will pay rent to utilize Buggy World's service area for its primary business, which is repairing and servicing ATVs and Dirt Bikes, and will also be selling soft goods, apparel and accessories in Buggy World's showroom, including products from Oakley, Fox, Shift, No Fear, O'Neill, Troy Lee Designs, Thor, Answer, Renthal, Spy and many others.
• Initiatives designed to reduce operating expenses resulted in a sharp narrowing of both the operating loss and the net loss, reducing the break-even point as the Company moves toward its peak season.
First Quarter Financial Results
The Company reported revenues for the first quarter of $596,486, an increase of 20.8% compared to the $493,615 for the first quarter last year. Gross profit for the quarter was $119,391, or 20.0% gross profit margin, compared to gross profit of $135,492 or 24.7% gross profit margin for the first quarter of 2010. Gross margin was lower due to the completion of a one-time liquidation of a significant amount of obsolete or dated inventory that had been warehoused for several years, as well as higher costs for scooters and ATVs and increased shipping expenses. Total operating expenses were $249,077, down 22.2% sequentially compared to the $304,323 in the fourth quarter of 2010 and down 271.1% compared to the first quarter last year as management continued to focus on more efficient marketing initiatives and other cost-reduction efforts to narrow the company's losses.
"We continue to focus on ways to reduce our operating expenses while simultaneously growing our revenues, and we have made great progress in that effort year-to-date as operating expenses declined to 41.8% of revenue in the first quarter compared to 187.3% of revenue for the first quarter last year," commented Frank Drechsler, President and CEO of San West Inc. "We have repositioned the company's retail location as the retailer of choice in Southern California as we enter the peak season, and our online properties continue to set new records for high-quality traffic. We believe this strategic positioning should benefit us during the summer months."
Net loss for the quarter was $(225,967), or $(0.00) per share, compared to a net loss of $(952,404) or $(0.01) per share last year. Excluding one-time, non-cash charges totaling $197,100 and $792,175 for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, related to stock compensation and the expense associated with the beneficial conversion feature of convertible notes, the Company's loss decreased $87,362 to $72,867 for the three months ended March 31, 2011 compared to $160,229 for the three months ended March 31, 2010.
Mr. Drechsler continued, "While our gross margins have been impacted by higher costs for scooters and ATVs, as well as increased shipping expenses, we have substantially reduced our sales and marketing expenses, and focused on stock-based compensation when possible to reduce cash outlays. As a result, we saw our operating loss narrow by 83.5% and our net loss narrow by 76.3%. This, coupled with the continued double-digit revenue growth, positions us for profitability once we reach critical mass."
Improved Branding and Exposure
According to web analytic company Alexa, the website's global traffic ranking has moved up 492,484 spots over the past three months. A thorough analysis of the site's traffic dynamics, including a variety of interactive charts, can be viewed at: http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/countyimports.com. Other important findings revealed by recently updated Alexa data include:
• The global reach of www.CountyImports.com -- or the percentage of global Internet users visiting the site -- has increased by 80% over the past month and 130% over the past three months.
• Daily page-views for the site have risen by 300% and 130% over the past three and one month reporting periods.
• Visitors are spending approximately 130% more time on www.CountyImports.com -- about 6..3 minutes per visit -- over the past three months and viewing 3.6 unique pages each day on average, representing an improvement of approximately 70%.
• The percentage of visitors leaving the site after viewing just one unique page declined by 27% and 20% over the prior three and one month reporting periods.
eNewsletter Update
There will be more news coming out soon! In the meantime, just know that your company is doing good and growing bigger and better every day. Thank You for being a part of San West Family!
Sincerely,
Vlad Cood
Director of Communications, San West Inc.
Vlad@SanWestInc.Com
1783500 shares for 0.012 at the Ask! Is this a good sign?
http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/SNWT/quote
San West Inc. Reports First Quarter 2011 Results
Sales Continue to Increase in Response to Marketing Initiatives, Focus on Fuel Efficiency; Expense Reduction Initiatives Lead to 84% Reduction in Operating Income and 76% Narrowing of Net Loss
SANTEE, CA--(Marketwire - May 19, 2011) - San West, Inc. (OTCBB: SNWT), an emerging leader in the motor sports industry, operator of the industry-leading motor sports portal www.CountyImports.com, and Buggy World retailers, today reported financial results for its first quarter of 2011, the period ended March 30, 2011.
Operational and Corporate Highlights
• San West and CountyImports.com launched a variety of new product offerings, including new electric bicycle and electric bicycle kit products, as well as a new series of motorized scooter products and other ORVs, designed to combat rising fuel prices throughout the United States.
• San West, Inc. formed a strategic partnership with RND, a local ATV and Dirt-Bike service and accessory retailer, under which RND will pay rent to utilize Buggy World's service area for its primary business, which is repairing and servicing ATVs and Dirt Bikes, and will also be selling soft goods, apparel and accessories in Buggy World's showroom, including products from Oakley, Fox, Shift, No Fear, O'Neill, Troy Lee Designs, Thor, Answer, Renthal, Spy and many others.
• Initiatives designed to reduce operating expenses resulted in a sharp narrowing of both the operating loss and the net loss, reducing the break-even point as the Company moves toward its peak season.
First Quarter Financial Results
The Company reported revenues for the first quarter of $596,486, an increase of 20.8% compared to the $493,615 for the first quarter last year. Gross profit for the quarter was $119,391, or 20.0% gross profit margin, compared to gross profit of $135,492 or 24.7% gross profit margin for the first quarter of 2010. Gross margin was lower due to the completion of a one-time liquidation of a significant amount of obsolete or dated inventory that had been warehoused for several years, as well as higher costs for scooters and ATVs and increased shipping expenses. Total operating expenses were $249,077, down 22.2% sequentially compared to the $304,323 in the fourth quarter of 2010 and down 271.1% compared to the first quarter last year as management continued to focus on more efficient marketing initiatives and other cost-reduction efforts to narrow the company's losses.
"We continue to focus on ways to reduce our operating expenses while simultaneously growing our revenues, and we have made great progress in that effort year-to-date as operating expenses declined to 41.8% of revenue in the first quarter compared to 187.3% of revenue for the first quarter last year," commented Frank Drechsler, President and CEO of San West Inc. "We have repositioned the company's retail location as the retailer of choice in Southern California as we enter the peak season, and our online properties continue to set new records for high-quality traffic. We believe this strategic positioning should benefit us during the summer months."
Net loss for the quarter was $(225,967), or $(0.00) per share, compared to a net loss of $(952,404) or $(0.01) per share last year. Excluding one-time, non-cash charges totaling $197,100 and $792,175 for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, related to stock compensation and the expense associated with the beneficial conversion feature of convertible notes, the Company's loss decreased $87,362 to $72,867 for the three months ended March 31, 2011 compared to $160,229 for the three months ended March 31, 2010.
Mr. Drechsler continued, "While our gross margins have been impacted by higher costs for scooters and ATVs, as well as increased shipping expenses, we have substantially reduced our sales and marketing expenses, and focused on stock-based compensation when possible to reduce cash outlays. As a result, we saw our operating loss narrow by 83.5% and our net loss narrow by 76.3%. This, coupled with the continued double-digit revenue growth, positions us for profitability once we reach critical mass."
SNWT Results of Operations 10-Q
Three Months Ended March 31, 2011 Compared With the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010.
Revenues
Net Revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 was $596,486 and $493,615, respectively. The 102,871, or 20.8% increase in revenue is due to increasing sales through County Imports. The Company acts as dealer and fulfillment house for www.countyimports.com resulting in additional revenue.
Gross Profit
Gross profit for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 was $119,391 and $135,492, respectively. The Gross margin for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 20.0% and 27.4%, respectively. Our three month year-over-year gross margin decreased 7.4% due to fluctuations in our product sales mix.
Selling General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”) for the three months ended March 31, 2011 were $249,077, a decrease of $675,365 from $924,442 for the three months ended March 31, 2010. The decrease in expense is mainly due to the recognition of $642,175 in non-cash stock compensation in 2010 compared to $73,100 of stock compensation during 2011, $71,426 decrease in professional fees and $34,864 net decrease in other general expenses.
Other Income and Expense
Total other expense decreased $67,173 to $96,281 for the three months ended March 31, 2011 compared to $163,454 of expense during the same period last year. The decrease is primarily due to a $26,000 reduction in the amortization of a convertible promissory note’s beneficial conversion feature to $80,000 in the current year compared to $150,000 in the prior year offset by a $3,685 increase in interest expense related to our promissory notes overall.
Net Loss
As a result of the foregoing factors, our net loss was $225,967, or $0.00 per share, for the three months ended March 31, 2011 compared to a loss of $952,404, or $0.01 per share for the three months ended March 31, 2010. Excluding one-time, non-cash charges totaling $197,100 and $792,175 for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, related to stock compensation and the expense associated with the beneficial conversion feature of our convertible notes, the Company’s loss decreased $87,362 to $72,867 for the three months ended March 31, 2011 compared to $160,229 for the three months ended March 31, 2010.
SNWT Q1 Result: The Best Ever?
Scooter Sales up 50% Over 2010
We covered the projected boom in global electric scooter sales last week, but recent news seems to indicate that gas-powered scooter sales are rapidly on the rise, as well. USA Today is reporting that sales of new scooters are up more than 50% compared to a year ago, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council. The Council’s spokesman remarked that the industry “sees spikes when fuel prices rise,” and added that many scooters (like the newly CARB-certified 4-stroke Stella shown, above) easily exceed 60-80 mph – making them attractive alternatives for commuters looking to minimize the impact $5/gallon gasoline has on their wallets.
The last time gas prices shot above $4 nationwide was July of 2008, when the national average for regular unleaded rose to $4.11 per gallon. Back then, 2-wheeled commuting rose 15% compared to 2007.
As gas prices approach a $4/gallon national average again this summer, will more commuters turn to scooters to get around again, or will they stick to SUVs and pickups?
http://www.countyimports.com
http://www.buggyworld.net
http://www.sanwestinc.com
SNWT: Electric Motorcycle and Scooter Sales to Skyrocket
Electric scooters and motorcycles are quietly competing with electric cars for dominance in the green-transportation future, and - according to analysts at the Pikes Research facility, the North American market will grow to more than 41,000 electric motorcycles and nearly 28,000 electric scooters by 2017.In other parts of the world, scooter and motorcycle markets benefit from government incentives and high (relative to US) gas prices that contribute to sales already, but cities worldwide are facing urban transportation difficulties due to population growth and rising fuel costs, which have led the Pikes team to predict significant e-bike growth in markets outside of the US, as well.
Western Europe: 109,945 e-motorcycles, 91,625 e-scooters
Pacific Asia: 2.7 mil e-motorcycles, 13.5 mil e-scooters
• China: 2.2 mil e-motorcycles, 19.5 mil e-scooters
Growth like this would boost the overall electric 2-wheeler market from its present size (approx. 17 million units in 2011) to an estimated (again, by Pikes Research) 138 million units by 2017.
Senior analyst Dave Hurst writes that increasing population density will become a challenge for transportation systems and that e-motorcycles and scooters have a strong appeal to consumers and governments, alike. "They are relatively low cost to own," explains Hurst. "They do not take a lot of space, and are easy to maintain, therefore making them attractive for city dwellers. Governments also like these vehicles because they can utilize existing transportation and electricity infrastructure without the congestion problems and emissions impacts of conventional automobiles."
What will it take to finally get Americans out of their cars and on to two wheels? Money and time are effective incentives. There are the strides being made in major cities on both coasts to promote the bike/motorcycle culture as a realistic alternative to cars in places like L.A. (where lane splitting is legal) and New York City. Maybe the added benefit of "being green" and staying (relatively) immune to gasoline prices will finally be the tipping point.