6 • September 2024 • Powersports Business

American Honda has announced a partnership with global logistics services leader Maersk on the opening of a new 150,000 square foot distribution center in Phoenix , Arizona .

The distribution center will support Honda ’ s Powersports and Products division , strengthening the company ’ s ability to serve its regional dealer network in the Southwestern U . S . The facility will also provide warehousing and distribution services for a wide range of recreational , utility , and outdoor equipment . Previously , Honda serviced the Southwestern U . S . from the Los Angeles area .

“ Phoenix offers us excellent proximity to our dealer network , which enhances our ability to serve customers more efficiently ,” says John Stevens , director of Powersports Sales Operations at American Honda . “ Maersk ’ s deep knowledge of our business and rapid execution in establishing the new location has helped us drive forward on key aspects of our regional business strategy .”

The Maersk Contract Logistics Team activated operations at the Phoenix site within just 90 days of the December 2023 contract award . The fast activation included locating the facility , finalizing the lease , and taking delivery of initial stock . The facility commenced operations in March 2024 .

The distribution center staff provides a range of value-added services , including coordination of distribution to Honda ’ s regional dealer network , return management , light assembly , and quality control .

“ We ’ re privileged to support Honda ’ s growth in an expanding market ,” says Jeff Kellan , Maersk North American Head of

The new 150,000 square foot distribution center will support Honda ’ s Powersports and Products division and strengthen the company ’ s ability to serve its Southwest dealer network . Photo courtesy of Honda

Contract Logistics . “ Our distribution centers are a key node in the global chain of services we ’ re able to provide to Honda , from ocean shipping and landside transportation to contract logistics . We look forward to honoring the relationship we ’ ve built over the years through reliable execution of services and delivering exceptional value , day in and day out , for years to come .”

The Phoenix distribution center is Maersk ’ s third facility actively supporting Honda ’ s needs . In 2011 , Maersk established facilities in Shreveport , Louisiana , followed by Kansas City , Missouri , in 2020 .

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also be seen — with one near a garage door at the back of the facility .

“ It shows the value of the Young Automotive Group , and the fact that [ they ] have grown up here ,” Petro says about the mural . “ This is an evolution of how we ’ re changing and reforming as a city . Artwork like this is typically what you ’ d see in the major metro areas , right ? But at the same time , [ they ’ ve ] driven it back home to our hometown values and what Layton is all about .”

Adrenaline Murals also scattered Easter eggs throughout the artwork . These include a Chevrolet and USPS logo — which serve as an homage to the building ’ s history — and a swan princess , a tribute to one of the Young Automotive Group ’ s chairpeople . Individuals looking at the wall can find a “ t ” as well , referencing a joke about how Layton locals forget the letter when pronouncing the city ’ s name .

“ We wanted to make this interactive ,” said Jourdan Biesinger , owner of Adrenaline Murals . “ Every one of the items we ’ ve hidden in it has a story pertaining to something or someone in the Layton community .”

Along with this event , the Young Automotive Group has celebrated 100 years of business throughout 2024 . Young Powersports Layton ’ s dealership is not only one of their premier locations , but the building once housed the company ’ s Chevrolet operation during its early years .

“ This facility ’ s been the center of a lot of success and growth ,” Custis says . “ It ’ s exciting to celebrate and add to something with so much history . We ’ re confident this can still be a landmark for people another century from now .”

Adrenaline Murals scattered Easter eggs throughout the artwork .

UBCO is donating up to 100 AWD electric utility bikes to the National Park Service , starting in California , Nevada , and Oregon , to support trail improvements , site restoration , law enforcement , and general operations in parks across the U . S . The National Park Service protects and preserves over 85 million acres throughout the U . S .

“ Our focus is on safe , lightweight electric utility bikes that deliver carbon and operational cost savings at scale ,” says Phil Harrison , senior vice president of Special Projects at UBCO . “ Conservation is a key priority for us , and it ’ s a privilege to be able to donate vehicles to the National Park Service that make it easier for staff to carry out their work and preserve parks for future generations .”

The partnership ’ s objective is to identify and validate use cases within the parks where the bikes could replace the use of larger , internal combustion vehicles and offer new ways of working . UBCO bikes will be delivered in two phases . Phase 1 includes six parks in the

Pacific-West Region , where UBCO will work with each park , fleet , and safety managers to develop standard operating procedures . Phase 2 will see the balance of bikes deployed to other parks across the U . S .

In Phase 1 , UBCO bikes will be delivered to : Crater Lake National Park , Oregon Golden Gate National Recreation Area , California Lake Mead National Recreation Area , Nevada Channel Islands National Park , California Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area , California Joshua Tree National Park , California

“ UBCO is a unique , AWD electric utility bike with broad fleet applications ,” says Oliver Hutaff , CEO of UBCO . “ It ’ s a fifth-generation product with unrivaled off-road performance credentials . Our vehicles are deployed at scale across a multitude of use cases with federal , state , and local government agencies in the U . S ., as well as New Zealand , Australia , and

Europe , including the Department of Conservation in New Zealand , who manage a land area of over 20 million acres .”

Bikes deployed in Phase 1 have already

UBCO has deployed its AWD electric utility bikes to parks in California , Nevada , and Oregon to support trail improvements , site restoration , law enforcement , and general operations in parks across the U . S . Photos courtesy of UBCO

been well received . Chad Marin , chief ranger at Golden Gate National Recreation Area says , “ I ’ m looking forward to what we can achieve with e-bikes as part of our toolkit .”