Powersports Business September 2024 | Page 27

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ELECTRIC

Powersports Business • September 2024 • 27

Zapp EV names COO to accelerate global expansion strategy

Zapp , the British electric vehicle brand , has announced the appointment of David McIntyre as chief operating officer effective immediately . Mclntyre , who previously served as Zapp ’ s chief commercial officer , brings to this newly created role an extensive background in scaling operations for luxury and performance automotive brands as Zapp prepares to expand operations to additional countries in Europe and Asia .
As COO , Mclntyre will be responsible for managing supply chain logistics , overseeing contract manufacturing and in-house assembly , as well as related production engineering efforts . He will continue to lead Zapp ’ s global commercial strategy , including network development , sales management , and comprehensive after-sales service .
In his three decades of experience in the international luxury automotive industry , Mclntyre has been instrumental in driving growth and operational efficiencies at McLaren , Jaguar , Land Rover , Aston Martin , Bentley , Porsche , and Lotus . His tenure at these companies contributed to successful expansions into new markets and increased unit sales in key markets across Europe , Asia , and Latin America .
“ David has demonstrated an exceptional ability to execute complex commercial strategies and deliver substantial sales growth ,” says Swin Chatsuwan , founder and chief executive officer of Zapp EV . “ His leadership will streamline operations and accelerate our path to commercial success as Zapp plans to scale the business rapidly across multiple markets .”
“ It is a privilege to step into this role at such a transformative juncture for Zapp ,” Mclntyre adds . “ My priority is the successful execution of our strategy to expand operations as Zapp introduces the i300 to an increasing set of countries around the world . We seek to set new standards in urban mobility , and I am excited to drive the business forward and deliver exceptional value for our customers and shareholders .”
David Mclntyre has been named COO of EV manufacturer Zapp . Photo courtesy of Zapp

Honda to supply Yamaha as OEM for Japanese market

Honda Motor Co ., Ltd . will supply Yamaha Motor Co ., Ltd . with electric motorcycle models for the Japanese market , based on the Honda “ EM1 e :” and “ BENLY e : I ” Class−1 category models , as an OEM . The Road Vehicles Act of Japan defines the Class−1 category as “ vehicles equipped with two or more wheels and an engine with total displacement of 50cc or less or an electric motor with rated output of 0.60kW or less .” The two companies will proceed with further discussion toward the signing of a formal agreement .
In October 2016 , the companies began discussing a possible business alliance in the Japanese Class−1 category motorcycle market to address various challenges motorcycle manufacturers would face , including compliance
with increasingly stringent safety standards and emissions regulations , and the pursuit of electrification .
The key topics of discussion included : 1 ) supplying 50cc scooter models as an OEM , 2 ) joint development / OEM supply of nextgeneration 50cc business scooter models , and 3 ) collaboration to popularize electric motorcycles in the Class−1 category . Based on that discussion , in March 2018 , Honda began supplying 50cc scooter models to Yamaha as an OEM .
In April 2019 , Yamaha , Honda , Kawasaki Heavy Industries , Ltd ., and Suzuki Motor Corporation established the Swappable Battery Consortium for Electric Motorcycles to popularize electric motorcycle models . The Consortium discussed the possibility
of standardizing mutual-use swappable batteries and their swapping systems as one of the solutions to address key challenges in the popularization of electric motorcycles – range and charging time – and reached an agreement to standardize ( establish common specifications ) in March 2021 .
Following these initiatives , Yamaha and Honda have agreed that Honda would supply models in the Class−1 category to Yamaha as an OEM , based on the EM1 e : and BENLY e : I , powered by the Honda Mobile Power Pack e : swappable battery that comply with the common specifications . Through this collaboration , the two companies will continue to offer electric motorcycle models that will satisfy the needs of more customers in the Class−1 category ,
which is a popular category for both personal mobility and business uses .
To further popularize electric motorcycles in the Class−1 category in Japan , the two companies will enhance their product lineup and continue to address various challenges facing electric motorcycles such as range , charging time , performance , and cost , as the two companies strive to contribute to the realization of carbon-neutral society .

Taiga circles the wagons , seeks bankruptcy protection
We got to ride Taiga ’ s electric PWC , the Orca , last year around this time . Photo courtesy of John Prusak
BY JOHN PRUSAK CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The ongoing struggles faced by Quebecbased Taiga as it tries to become an electric snowmobile and personal watercraft pioneer hit another snag when the company filed for the equivalent of bankruptcy protection in Canada .
The June 10 , 2024 , filing under the Canadian Companies Creditors Arrangement Act is similar to a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in the U . S . That means that the company is seeking protection from creditors while continuing it operations and operating under the watchful eyes of a count-appointed trustee .
In this case , that trustee is the Deloitte Restructuring Inc . It is not to be confused with a Chapter 7 bankruptcy , which results in a closing of a business and liquidation of assets .
Many big companies ( including Apple and General Motors , for example ) have successfully emerged from a Chapter 11 filing . But more often a company filing for such protection will seek new investment or an outright sale . If that fails , though , a Chapter
7 may be down the road . Taiga ’ s latest move follows layoffs and a production halt announced in April .
The Canada-based Financial Post posted an interesting background story on the Taiga saga on its website recently . It ’ s worth a read
for those curious about how Taiga got to this point and what may happen next .
Oddly , it was almost exactly a year ago that we were in Vermont for a test drive of Taiga ’ s personal watercraft , the Orca .