Polaris Inc. today announced it is restructuring its Indian Motorcycle dealer operations in the Australian and New Zealand markets and intends to move to an independent network of dealers starting later this year.
Polaris has managed the retail operations of its motorcycle brands through a network of corporate-owned and independent dealerships since it entered the Australian and New Zealand motorcycle market in 2008. The decision to move from corporate-owned dealerships to solely independent network of dealers will be a new retail approach for Indian Motorcycle in Australia and New Zealand, but brings these markets in-line with how the Company operates globally.
Alan Collins, Managing Director, Australia and New Zealand: “Setting up corporate- owned dealership has been the right model for the past decade as we worked to introduce brands, like Indian Motorcycle, to the Australian and New Zealand markets. However, the response to Indian Motorcycle has reached a point where our customers now need and demand more – more locations and more support. We have big and bold goals as we look to grow the Indian Motorcycle brand in this market. Moving to an independent franchised network of dealers is more sustainable for us and our partners as we look to grow in order to meet demand, while also enabling a broader network of support and options for our customers.”
By the end of 2020, Indian Motorcycle in Australia and New Zealand will operate solely with an independent dealer network. Indian Motorcycle will communicate directly with customers regarding our specific plans in each market.
Collins, continued, “We anticipate no interruption to sales or customer service during this transition, which will ultimately result in a significant expansion of our dealer network – we plan to double our network over the next two years – to provide far greater coverage, support and accessibility to customers across Australia and New Zealand. It will remain business as usual at our company-owned stores in the interim while we bring new dealer partners onboard.”
As a result of this change, Polaris will close its four company-owned stores, which are located in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, over the course of the next year. The company is committed to working directly with each location and will provide support accordingly for affected staff.
