FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
KAWASAKI PRESS KIT LETTER
TO GENERAL MEDIA
IRVINE, Calif. (January, 1995) --
Dear General Media Member:
Kawasaki, The Good Times Company, would like to help
keep you informed of all the great things happening in the exciting world of
motorcycling. To get you started, I have sent our 1995 motorcycle press kit for
your review.
As motorcycles
are more accepted in the mainstream, they become a source of greater curiosity
by your readers. According to the Motorcycle Industry Council, motorcycles,
scooters and ATVs are currently making a big impression all across the United
States. Here are some statistics from 1993:
Number of operators
31 million people operated
one of these vehicles in 1993
*
2.2 million of which commute to work or school on them regularly
*
400,000 of which use them as their primary mode of transportation
Operator statistics
*
Median age- 31
*
Percent male- 96
*
Percent married- 56
Number of vehicles in use
5.8 million are in use
*
67 percent, or 3.7 million were registered for use on public roads
Economic impact
$8.2 billion was generated
in sales, service, state tax and licensing of these vehicles
*
500,000 motorcycles, scooters and ATV were sold for $2.5 billion
Workforce
9500 retail outlets sell
motorcycle-related products
*
These businesses employ 49,000 people
*
Their combined payroll is $908 million
The numbers here
tell a story of bounding industry strength and the acceptance of motorcycling
into the mainstream. Kawasaki has had a strong hand in this current strength
with a diverse product range.
Kawasaki was the
first Japanese motorcycle or automobile company to build a vehicle assembly
plant in the United States. In addition to a host of diverse motorcycles
produced at the Lincoln, Nebraska assembly and manufacturing plant, every JET
SKIŽ watercraft, ATV, and Mule utility vehicle for worldwide distribution originates here.
In 1993, exports from this facility were $79 million. This plant, which has
rolled out over a million vehicles,
just celebrated its 20th anniversary, while Kawasaki's Maryville,
Missouri engine plant celebrated its fifth.
Yes, Kawasaki
makes more than just motorcycles. The company has led the personal watercraft
industry for 20 years with its lineup of JET SKI craft; captured the diverse
ATV market with the Bayou series;
found a home everywhere from baseball stadiums to construction sites with the
Mule utility vehicle; and ventured into the
power product industry with its modern lineup of engines which power everything
from leaf blowers to cement mixers. Information on all of these products is
available upon request.
One high-profile
product that comes exclusively from the Lincoln plant is the KZ1000 Police
Special. Made famous on the long-running television show CHiPs, this model made
headlines recently when Kawasaki was awarded the largest police contract in
U.S. history from the California Highway Patrol. The CHP is just one of 900
police agencies worldwide that use this motorcycle.
Proving these
great products week in and week out are various championship-winning
Kawasaki-sponsored racing teams. Battles take place on just about every weekend
of the year in stadium supercrosses, gravity defying roadraces and grueling
off-road events in places like the famed Baja peninsula, where a Kawasaki beat
all other motorcycles, as well as cars and trucks this year in the Baja 1000,s
aid to be North America's toughest off-road race..
There are many
projects that Kawasaki is involved in that may be of interest to you and your
readers; from the products and racing teams mentioned above to the ongoing user
relations programs such as the one set up with National Handicapped Sports,
where Kawasaki product and personnel are made available to the organization for
educational purposes.
Please take a
few minutes to review the enclosed materials. I'll contact you shortly to
answer any questions you may have and hopefully plant the seeds for a
continuing dialogue.
Regards,
Eric
Putter
Account
Executive
Kawasaki
Public Relations
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