1997 Harley-davidson Softail on 2040-motos

Moto blog

New Delhi Auto Expo 2012 – Motorcycle Manufacturers Draw Battle Lines for World’s Second Largest Market

In past years, the biennial Auto Expo in India slipped under the radar while the industry was focused more on shows such as EICMA in Italy and Intermot in Germany. But with India’s middle class starting to flex its financial muscle while other markets continue to struggle, the New Delhi show is becoming much more prominent, with major OEMs positioning themselves to claim a piece of the India’s 13 million vehicles-a-year market. We’ve already looked at India-produced Royal Enfield’s new Thunderbird 500 and Hero Moto’s hybrid scooter concept which debuted at the Auto Expo, and today we’ll look at what the major international OEMs presented.

Zero Enters South American Market

Zero Motorcycles has signed a distribution deal with the Brazilian dealer network Grupo Izzo, bringing its electric motorcycles to first Brazil, and soon across South America. Brazil is one of the world’s fastest growing markets for motorcycles, a market Zero hopes to tap with its new distribution deal. Grupo Izzo is based mainly in Brazil with 11 locations, but has plans to expand into other South American countries.

Antiques Roadshow Visits Sturgis Motorcycle Museum

While on location in the Black Hills of South Dakota, PBS’s Antiques Roadshow stopped by the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum to film a segment on motorcycle toys. In the segment host Mark L. Walberg talks with vintage toy expert Noel Barrett about various American-made, antique, cast iron motorcycle toys. Barrett shares the history of these early toys, some tips about how one might tell a reproduction from the real thing, and offers his valuation on several highlighted examples. Walberg also takes a ride on a vintage Harley-Davidson Servi-Car.