Take NOTE SUZUKI
5 Questions With...Triumph CEO Tue Mantoni
From the September, 2010 issue of Motorcyclist
By Aaron Frank
Photography by Tim Keeton
Q: How is Triumph faring in these tough economic times?
A: The global market for 500cc-and-larger motorcycles has lost about 500,000
unit sales since 2007. That's an almost 30 percent decrease. During the same
period, Triumph's market share has increased in every
market around the world. In the UK our market share has
increased to 14 percent. Our market share is 3.2 percent in Japan and 2.1
percent in the U.S., so Triumph is still a relatively small player, but this
across-the-board increase makes us cautiously optimistic.
Q: To what do you credit this continued growth in market share?
A: We made a conscious decision to treat this recession
as an opportunity. We knew everyone else would cut budgets and
new projects would stall. I had a discussion with John Bloor [owner of
Triumph], and we decided to push on. Now is a time to
bring out new models, which create excitement and attract attention to our
brand. We have introduced 10 all-new models since '06, and more are
coming soon.
Q: What is Triumph's business strategy for the coming year?
A: New model investment will continue to be our priority. During this
recession we've reduced costs everywhere but in new product development,
where we've actually increased our investment. We've got
165 design engineers here in Hinckley, and all they're doing is working on
new models. It's the biggest motorcycle design department outside
of Japan, and we're trying to recruit another 15 design engineers over the
next six months.
Q: Where do existing models fit into this development strategy?
A: Another core principle is regular updating of existing
models. We want the product line to always remain fresh. We've
introduced 10 new bikes over the last five years, but we've made many
updates to existing models, too. There's not one single
bike in our range that hasn't changed significantly since '06.
Q: What developments can we look forward to in the coming year?
A: More new models, as you see the effects of our stepping up R&D. You've
already ridden the 2011 Sprint GT. Four more new models
are coming yet this year. We will introduce motorcycles where we don't have
any today. We will increase the speed of the development cycles, of
replacement and updates to existing models. And hopefully, we will be a
bigger, better motorcycle company than before.
5 Questions With...Triumph CEO Tue Mantoni
From the September, 2010 issue of Motorcyclist
By Aaron Frank
Photography by Tim Keeton
Q: How is Triumph faring in these tough economic times?
A: The global market for 500cc-and-larger motorcycles has lost about 500,000
unit sales since 2007. That's an almost 30 percent decrease. During the same
period, Triumph's market share has increased in every
market around the world. In the UK our market share has
increased to 14 percent. Our market share is 3.2 percent in Japan and 2.1
percent in the U.S., so Triumph is still a relatively small player, but this
across-the-board increase makes us cautiously optimistic.
Q: To what do you credit this continued growth in market share?
A: We made a conscious decision to treat this recession
as an opportunity. We knew everyone else would cut budgets and
new projects would stall. I had a discussion with John Bloor [owner of
Triumph], and we decided to push on. Now is a time to
bring out new models, which create excitement and attract attention to our
brand. We have introduced 10 all-new models since '06, and more are
coming soon.
Q: What is Triumph's business strategy for the coming year?
A: New model investment will continue to be our priority. During this
recession we've reduced costs everywhere but in new product development,
where we've actually increased our investment. We've got
165 design engineers here in Hinckley, and all they're doing is working on
new models. It's the biggest motorcycle design department outside
of Japan, and we're trying to recruit another 15 design engineers over the
next six months.
Q: Where do existing models fit into this development strategy?
A: Another core principle is regular updating of existing
models. We want the product line to always remain fresh. We've
introduced 10 new bikes over the last five years, but we've made many
updates to existing models, too. There's not one single
bike in our range that hasn't changed significantly since '06.
Q: What developments can we look forward to in the coming year?
A: More new models, as you see the effects of our stepping up R&D. You've
already ridden the 2011 Sprint GT. Four more new models
are coming yet this year. We will introduce motorcycles where we don't have
any today. We will increase the speed of the development cycles, of
replacement and updates to existing models. And hopefully, we will be a
bigger, better motorcycle company than before.
There's always going to be a market for "gixxers".............
