«Don`t drink and drive». You have probably heard that before, but maybe for the last time, because now you can simply switch to put your car on autopilot. You can let the car take over and do the work for you. Just like an autopilot technology in aircraft.
The connected car trend is gaining some serious momentum, and Tesla (TSLA) is getting in on the act too, with a driverless «autopilot» feature revealed in its new Model D car. There is no doubt that the auto industry is getting increasingly high-tech, from augmented reality to infotainment systems, to driverless cars from Google (GOOGL) and Volvo (VOLVY).
But who is talking about motorcycles?
Milwaukee`s stalwart, Harley Davidson (HOG) embraces its tech side and have launched a few projects it`s been working on. One of them is LiveWire, and Harley Davidson broke away from two century-old traditions at the company, and that`s their new electric motorbike swapping its signature V-Twin engine for an electric motor.
The bike is not available for dealers yet, but Harley Davidson will take the electric bike on a cross-country tour through 30 dealers located on Route 66. Afterwards, Livewire will make its way through select cities in Canada and Europe.
The 460-pound bike boasts 74 horsepower. It can race from 0 to 60 mph in 4 seconds. The drawback is that this bike has only one gear and the engine tops out at 92 mph. In addition; there is no sound. Can you imagine a Harley Davidson without sound? It`s good for me, but what about the rider?
How cool is it to ride a bike that sounds like a tiny cat compared to a big lion?
Harley Davidson is thinking different, and the company is one of two American motorcycle manufacturers that survived the Great depression. That`s pretty impressive for a company with the motto; «We know what we`re doing, and haven`t looked for outside help», but in 2009, the stock fell from $73 to $10. A dramatic drop.
Innovation have helped them to get back again. Q3 results showed a 6,8% rise in sales. EPS is up 20,1% (compared to Q3, 2013), and net income jumped 16,9%. U.S bike sales grew by 3,4%, and global sales rose 3,8%.
Another upgrade is their Project Rushmore. Harley`s new Twin Cam 103. It`s liquid-cooled V-Twin engine. The vehicles were given a new cam shaft. The rider is given more comfort especially on hot days. New ABS brakes, a larger rigid fork, LED headlamps, and a text-to-speech infotainment system, voice recognition software, satellite radio and bluetooth connectivity.
Harley Davidson is becoming a tech company?
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Ket Garden
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