Tag: sales (Page 9 of 10)

Ferrari Will Expand its Lineup of Road Cars

August 18, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (Reuters) – Italian premium sports car maker Ferrari NV will expand sales of easier-driving grand touring cars, but will not try to chase rival Porsche’s annual sales volume, Ferrari Chairman John Elkann told an audience of classic car enthusiasts gathered at this storied golf resort on the Pacific coast.

Elkann also reiterated that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV, of which he is chairman, remains open to opportunities to combine with other automakers, but is positioned to remain independent. Fiat Chrysler in May proposed a merger with French automaker Renault SA, but the deal fell apart after the French government intervened and Elkann withdrew the proposed merger.

Fiat Chrysler Chief Executive Mike Manley sent the same message to Renault and other would-be partners earlier this month.

Elkann visited Pebble Beach during the annual Concours d’Elegance, during which wealthy collectors bring some of the world’s rarest vintage automobiles to be admired — and sold — and premium manufacturers showcase exotic new models.

Ferrari is best known for flashy, high performance sports cars. Among fans of vintage Ferraris, more understated GT, or grand touring, cars from the 1960s, some with seating for four people, are among the most popular models on auction blocks and at enthusiast events. GT cars were designed to be comfortable on longer road trips.

Elkann hinted Ferrari will unveil a new GT type car in November. Ferrari has said previously that about 40% of its total sales could come from GT cars by 2022, up from 32% now.

Ferrari has outlined plans to expand revenue to 5 billion euros ($5.54 billion) by 2022 from 3.4 billion euros in 2017. The company has said it plans to add a model called the Purosangue to compete with a growing stable of sport utility vehicles wearing premium sports car brands, such as the Lamborghini Urus.

Rival Porsche AG, a unit of Volkswagen AG, has expanded its sales to more than 250,000 sports cars and sport utility vehicles annually. Elkann said Ferrari is not aiming for Porsche’s level of sales.

($1 = 0.9018 euros)

(Reporting By Joe White; editing by Diane Craft)

Dassault Aviation Appoints Carlos Brana Executive Vice President of Civil Aircraft

July 16, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

Dassault Aviation has appointed Carlos Brana Executive Vice President, Civil Aircraft.

After graduating from the Ecole Centrale de Paris and from France’s HEC, Carlos Brana began his career at Dassault in 1984 as a design engineer on the Rafale, Mirage F1 and Mirage 2000 combat aircraft programs. He was later assistant manager for the Mirage 2000 program, then contract manager for the Qatar and Taiwan Mirage 2000-5 contracts.

After joining the foreign military sales force in 1998, he led the negotiating team for the Rafale proposal in South Korea before being named Director of Military Sales for the Middle East.

Carlos Brana moved to Dassault Aviation’s business jet operation in 2005. He began as Director of Sales for Asia at Dassault Falcon Jet (DFJ). He was later named Vice President for Contracts & Specifications, and subsequently Senior Vice President for DFJ Operations, with responsibility for customer service, finance and contract management. He also oversaw activities at the Dassault Aircraft Services (DAS) affiliate, which manages company-owned service centers in the Americas.

Since 2016 Carlos Brana served as Olivier Villa’s deputy as Senior Vice President, Civil Aircraft with a special focus on worldwide Falcon business jet sales and marketing.

International Defense & Aerospace Group Welcomes MD 530F

July 10, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

Authorized MDHI Sales Agent International Defense & Aerospace Group welcomes the first of up to 3 new, state-of-the-art MD 530F helicopters to be used for tactical and NVG flight training

MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) is proud to announce the sale and delivery of a new MD 530F to International Defense & Aerospace Group, LLC (IDAG), a Pennsylvania-based authorized sales agent. The company’s first state-of-the-art MD 530F aircraft with a production all-glass cockpit, the custom-configured F-model will join an IDAG fleet of training aircraft operated by the Slovak Training Academy that also includes five (5) MD 500E-model helicopters. Its primary role will be to support the tactical and NVG flight training needs of military and paramilitary helicopter pilots from around the world.

“We are excited about the sale of this MD 530F, and the opportunity to have military and paramilitary pilots from around the world train in the MD 530F,” said Lynn Tilton, MD Helicopters, Inc. Chief Executive Officer. “MD Helicopters and International Defense & Aerospace Group are aligned in our commitment to delivering excellence in product quality, support and training, and in our belief that the MD 500E and MD 530F airframes offer the best performance in their class for training, law enforcement and military operations.”

An authorized MDHI Sales Agent for select Central and Eastern European opportunities since 2017, International Defense & Aerospace Group (IDAG) focuses on the sale and service of specialty rotorcraft solutions to military and paramilitary operators throughout Central and Eastern Europe. Global airborne law enforcement, military, and Special Forces operators worldwide also recognize IDAG for offering a comprehensive curriculum of transition and tactical flight training.

“We believe in the quality, proven performance and durability of MD Helicopters’ aircraft,” said Bob Caldwell, President and CEO of IDAG. “The MD 500-series helicopters are perfectly suited for training missions. They are incredibly robust, economical to operate, and have an unmatched safety record.”

IDAG also supports fleet operations and flight crew training for several regional national police agencies and operators.

Configuration

Powered by the Rolls-Royce 250-C30 650shp turbine engine, IDAG’s right-hand command MD 530F is the first type-certified 369FF aircraft to be produced with the company’s all-glass cockpit, and also features NVIS cockpit lighting, extended landed gear, and a 21-gallon Fargo auxiliary fuel tank.

“The MD 530F is one of our most versatile airframes,” Tilton concludes. “It is a proven performer with military and paramilitary operators worldwide, and delivers the overall performance, reliability and mission flexibility required by our growing global base of operators. We congratulate IDAG on this acquisition decision and look forward to the continued growth of their MD Helicopters fleet.”

VIDEO & IMAGE ASSETS: Click here to view a short video featuring this new, multi-mission, multi-role MD 530F. High-resolution images can be requested via MD Helicopters

Strong SUV, Truck Demand Drive U.S. June Auto Sales Higher

July 2, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

July 2 (Reuters) – Automakers including Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV and Hyundai Motor Co on Tuesday reported a rise in U.S. sales for June, lifted by strong demand for sport utility vehicles and trucks.

Automakers have focused on selling the more profitable larger SUVs and trucks and had offered heavy discounts of up to 30% or more on their most popular models in June amid a slowdown in the broader market.

U.S. auto sales are slowing after a long bull-run that has satiated replacement demand.

Fiat Chrysler said its sales rose 1.9% to 206,083 vehicles in June, driven by a 45% surge in sales of its Ram trucks.

Hyundai said its sales rose 1.5% to 64,202 vehicles in the month, boosted by a 36% increase in sales of its Santa Fe sport utility vehicles.

GM and Ford are yet to report their sales numbers.

Mitsubishi Motors North America Inc said its June sales rose 10.5% to 12,317 vehicles due to an increase in sales of its seven-seater Outlander and Eclipse Cross SUV’s.

(Reporting by Ankit Ajmera in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli and James Emmanuel)

Viking Signs Deal for Next Generation CL-515 Aircraft

June 19, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

PARIS, June 18, 2019––Longview Aviation Capital (“Longview”) and its subsidiary Viking Air Limited, a global leader of utility aircraft, support and services and manufacturer of the world-renowned Twin Otter, today announced a seven aircraft sales contract for six new-production CL-515 aircraft and one CL-415EAF.

The CL-515 is a newly developed, technically advanced multi-mission aerial firefighting aircraft – the next generation of the CANADAIR CL-415, the aviation industry’s benchmark amphibious aircraft and the backbone of firefighting missions around the globe. With enhanced firefighting capabilities, and the flexibility to support a wide range of critical mission operations, the CL-515 will be a vitally important strategic asset to fleets around the world.

The Republic of Indonesia’s Ministry of Defense has agreed to purchase six all-new CL-515 aircraft, four of which will be delivered in “First Responder” multi-mission configuration, and two delivered in optimized aerial firefighter configuration. The purchase agreement also includes one CANADAIR CL-415EAF “Enhanced Aerial Firefighter” aircraft converted from a CANADAIR CL-215 to EAF standard by Longview Aviation Capital’s subsidiary, Longview Aviation Services.

The Republic of Indonesia’s purchase agreement is a firm commitment that is conditional only on Longview Aviation Capital’s Board of Directors approving the production launch program.

“We are thrilled to welcome the Republic of Indonesia as the first customer for this extraordinary aircraft,” said David Curtis, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Longview Aviation Capital. ”This contract is a major milestone in bringing the next generation CANADAIR to market. The confidence of a sovereign government in our program is matched by our own confidence in our ability to deliver this new aircraft platform to the world. We are very well advanced in all aspects of program planning, including our supply chain, and we are nearing a final decision on manufacturing and final assembly sites. We expect to complete the remaining program milestones in the near future, and deliver the first new CL-515 on schedule in 2024.”

Program Development Process

Since acquiring the type certificates for the CANADAIR amphibious aircraft program from Bombardier in 2016, Longview has had positive discussions with numerous potential customers from around the world, including both governments and private operators, who have enthusiastically encouraged a production restart.

On the basis of the global interest in the unique and unrivalled capabilities of the CL-515, Longview and Viking have invested in a rigorous process ahead of full production launch decision:

Consulted extensively with current global operators to understand their future aerial firefighting resource requirements
Conducted extensive market research and feasibility studies and developed a new all-season multi-mission platform, leveraging advanced technology not previously included in the CL program
Consulted with key supplier partners
Undertaken advanced supply chain and manufacturing planning, including options associated with Longview’s current facilities and potential new facilities in Western Canada

CL-515 Highlights

Up to 15% better aerial firefighting productivity, including increased tank capacity and ability to refill in 14 seconds
State-of-the-art Collins Pro Line Fusion® digital avionics suite for unrivaled situational awareness
Flexible architecture to support multi-mission capabilities including aerial firefighting, maritime patrol, surveillance, medevac, environmental monitoring, insect control, oil spill detection and dispersant
Reduced maintenance and operating costs through improved, scalable avionics and superior design
Unmatched mission efficiency and flexibility, requiring no runway or reloading capacity during waterbombing firefighting

“Indonesia is on the front lines of increasing challenges like forest fires, and as an island nation has extensive needs for a range of amphibious capabilities,” said Air Chief Marshal Yuyu Sutisna, chief of staff for Indonesia’s Air Force. “We have chosen to invest in this aircraft based on the CANADAIR’s solid track record demonstrated around the world over the last 50 years, and Viking’s established capabilities as an aircraft developer and producer. The next generation CL-515 will have unmatched operational performance, particularly as a firefighter. This aircraft has the best productivity of any aerial firefighting aircraft, capable of delivering the highest quantity of foam retardant per day, while at the same time providing the flexibility to save lives and protect our coastal areas through its multi-role SAR and Maritime Surveillance functionalities. We are proud to sign the first contract for this extraordinary aircraft that will enhance our mission capability at excellent value.”

Dassault Aviation Starts Office Construction at Mérignac Plant

May 14, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

Mérignac, France, 14 May 2019 – Today, Dassault Aviation officially launched the construction of an office building on its site in Mérignac, France, as a step of its “Leading our Future” transformation plan. The building will accommodate design, development and after-sales support teams for the firm’s civil and defense activities.

“This ambitious project reflects our aim to bring together some of the teams who design and support our aircraft and those responsible for producing them. It fosters collaborative working as part of the rollout of our extended design office concept. The principle is to integrate even more and whenever required, from the design phase, all the trades involved in the product life cycle. This building will not just house offices, it will be one of the means to reframe the interactions between Mérignac and Saint-Cloud. We are expecting better links between technical competence, product knowledge and customer services”, said Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation. “It is one of the focuses of our transformation plan which, without altering the DNA that has underpinned our century-long success, aims to make our company more flexible and more competitive to respond to the technology challenges ahead and the changes occurring in the world around us.”

The new building will offer 25,800 sq. m of surface area over four levels with a total capacity of 1,500 workstations including 24 modular collaborative work spaces and nine project offices. The building will also provide VIP rooms for our civil and military customers, a Falcon command center, rooms for aircraft system test benches, a Virtual Reality Center, an Immersive Reality Center and an auditorium.

The highest environmental standards will be applied including smart lighting and energy management, solar panels (4,000 sq. m), reinforced insulation, green roofs, and a heat recovery system.

Presided over by Eric Trappier, alongside Valérie Guillemet, Mérignac Site Manager, the “groundbreaking” ceremony was attended by many local elected representatives, particularly the President of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region Alain Rousset, the President of Bordeaux Métropole Patrick Bobet, the Mayor of Mérignac Alain Anziani and the Mayor of Bordeaux Nicolas Florian. Representatives of official services, as well as the region’s aviation ecosystem and the media were also present at the event.

Work is scheduled for completion at the end of 2020, and the building should be commissioned in 2021.

About Dassault Aviation

With over 10,000 military and civil aircraft delivered in more than 90 countries over the last century, Dassault Aviation has built up expertise recognized worldwide in the design, development, sale and support of all types of aircraft, ranging from the Rafale fighter, to the high-end Falcon family of business jets and military drones. In 2018, Dassault Aviation reported revenues of €5.1 billion. The company has 11,500 employees.

Twitter : @Dassault_OnAir

After Successful 2018, Pilatus Prepares for the Future

May 9, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

The business year 2018 was an exceptionally successful one for Pilatus, but also a challenging one. At around 1.1 billion Swiss francs, sales revenue was brought back to the billion mark again. The 128 aircraft delivered in total included the first PC-24 – a milestone in the company history. All in all, 18 PC-24s were handed over to customers in the past year.

Financial 2018 was better than the previous year. At 1,092 million Swiss francs, sales revenue surpassed the one billion mark for the first time since 2015. The operating result totals 157 million Swiss francs. And the future looks good: following incoming orders worth 1 billion Swiss francs, the current order volume stands at 2.1 billion Swiss francs – the equivalent of just under two years of sales revenue. A total of 128 aircraft were delivered to customers – 18 PC-24s, 80 PC-12 NGs, 27 PC-21s and three PC-6s.

PC-24 in focus

The delivery of the first PC-24 to the first customer in February 2018 marked a milestone in the development phase spanning over eleven years. The brand-new Super Versatile Jet was the focus of much work throughout 2018: besides bringing PC-24 series production operations up to speed, the customer service unit and entire service network also switched to “live” mode. Pilatus continued to make improvements to the PC-24 in parallel, pushing ahead with various post-certification test programmes aimed at delivering all aircraft capabilities promised to customers at the outset. The next milestone is just around the corner: the reopening of the PC-24 order book.

Customer service business grows in both pillars

Whilst the military sector is hugely important to Pilatus, the lack of new trainer fleet contracts in 2018 is not unduly worrying: Pilatus is focused on the necessary upstream work and has reinforced its sales efforts in this area. Constant growth in after-sales business is encouraging.

The Business Unit General Aviation also saw continued expansion of its customer service operations. The volume of PC-24s in operation grows with every week that passes, generating similar growth in the number of customers requiring support. The network of Authorised Pilatus Centres was further strengthened to offer customers around the world the level of service they are entitled to expect in the business aircraft league.

Preparing for success in the future

At the end of 2018 the Pilatus Group employed 2,283 people, including 127 apprentices. Over 150 new jobs were created. 93 percent of all employees work in Switzerland. At the headquarters in Stans work progresses on the construction of the new structure assembly hall: this new centre of competence for airframe construction operations will be commissioned in spring 2019 – a clear sign of commitment to the location in Switzerland.

The new completion centre run by the US subsidiary Pilatus Business Aircraft Ltd in Broomfield, Colorado, opened in the autumn. In Adelaide, preparatory work continued for the construction of a new, company-owned building for the subsidiary, Pilatus Australia Pty Ltd.

Commenting on these results, Chairman Oscar J. Schwenk remarked: “I am pleased to note that financial 2018 was a very successful year for us. A year in which a great deal of energy went into performing much detailed work. Work which will take us forward throughout the coming year, creating added benefit for our customers. The good financial results of the past year will also benefit our employees under our profit-sharing programme. In addition to an extra month’s salary, they have also been paid a bonus of 1.5 salaries. Our next challenge is already in sight: the imminent re-opening of the PC-24 order book. This is the year in which the reputation of the PC-24 and all other related services will be established. We are consistent in our efforts towards that goal, thereby consolidating our success and our future.”

Textron Profit Beats on Higher Aircraft Sales

April 17, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

FILE PHOTO: Cessna employee works on an engine of a Cessna business jet at the assembly line in their manufacturing plant in Wichita, Kansas March 12, 2013. REUTERS/Jeff Tuttle

(Reuters) – Cessna business jet maker Textron Inc reported a higher-than-expected quarterly profit on Wednesday, benefiting from robust aircraft deliveries, sending its share up 1.6 percent in early trading.

Business jet demand has been growing steadily in the United States, the world’s biggest market, on the back of an expanding economy and rising corporate profits.

Textron said it delivered 44 jets in the first quarter ended March 30, up from 36 last year. Commercial turboprop deliveries rose to 44 aircraft from 29 last year.

“We think this quarter has pretty much ticked all the boxes for Textron. Aviation growth has continued, with a positive book to bill in the quarter,” Vertical Research Partners analyst Robert Stallard said.

Textron has faced delays in final certification of its newest super mid-size Longitude jet, which is expected to contribute a ‘big chunk’ to the company’s revenue growth in 2019.

Analysts have warned that the certification delays from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration due to partial government shutdown followed by the regulator’s intense focus on re-certifying Boeing Co’s 737 MAX aircraft might impact sales growth at the company in the short.

Though the aviation business was among the drivers for a profit beat, Textron’s revenue missed Wall Street estimates, hurt by lower sales in its systems unit, which makes tactical armored patrol vehicles.

Textron re-affirmed its full-year profit outlook range of $3.55 to $3.75 per share.

Sales in the company’s aviation business, its biggest, rose 12.3 percent to $1.13 billion in the first quarter, while sales in the systems unit fell more than 20 percent to $307 million.

The company’s net income fell to $179 million in the quarter ended March 30 from $189 million a year earlier.

Textron earned 76 cents per share, above analysts’ average estimate of 68 cents, according to Refinitiv data.

Textron’s revenue fell 5.7 percent to $3.11 billion, below analysts’ estimates of $3.17 billion.

(Reporting by Divya R and Ankit Ajmera in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel)

Tesla Boom Lifts Norway’s Electric Car Sales to 58%!

April 1, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

FILE PHOTO: Electric cars are seen at Tesla charging station in Gulsvik, Norway March 17, 2019. REUTERS/Terje Solsvik/File Photo

OSLO (Reuters) – Almost 60 percent of all new cars sold in Norway in March were fully electric, the Norwegian Road Federation (NRF) said on Monday, a global record set by a country seeking to end fossil-fueled vehicles sales by 2025.

Exempting battery engines from taxes imposed on diesel and petrol cars has upended Norway’s auto market, elevating brands like Tesla and Nissan, with its Leaf model, while hurting sales of Toyota, Daimler and others.

In 2018, Norway’s fully electric car sales rose to a record 31.2 percent market share from 20.8 percent in 2017, far ahead of any other nation, and buyers had to wait as producers struggled to keep up with demand.

The surge of electrics to a 58.4 percent market share in March came as Tesla ramped up delivery of its mid-sized Model 3, which retails from 442,000 crowns ($51,400), while Audi began deliveries of its 652,000-crowns e-tron sports utility vehicle.

(Editing by Lefteris Karagiannopoulos and Terje Solsvik, editing by Gwladys Fouche)

$3 Million Koenigsegg Jesko is Already Sold Out…

March 20, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

Koenigsegg is pleased to announce that down payments have been received from customers and dealers for all 125 Koenigsegg Jesko build slots.

The launch of the Koenigsegg Jesko at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show was an outstanding success. 83 cars were sold prior to the show. Agreements were made on the remainder within 5 days of the car’s debut on the Koenigsegg stand. With all deposits received, we are now in a position to share the Jesko’s success with the world.

Koenigsegg Founder and CEO, Christian von Koenigsegg:

The new Koenigsegg Jesko is the highest volume production run we’ve ever planned. For it to have sold out within days of its unveiling is both humbling and a wonderful testament to the outstanding crew we have at Koenigsegg. From the visionary work of our designers, engineers and technicians to the incredible job done by our sales team and our global network of Koenigsegg dealers – it took a great team to bring the Jesko to the world. We are very thankful for the reception it’s received from the press, the public and of course, our growing family of Koenigsegg owners.

Jesko production will begin at the end of 2020 at the rate of one per week.

The model can be specified in either of two variants – track or top speed – according to customer preference. The Koenigsegg Jesko will be homologated for road use in all relevant markets, worldwide.

A small number of vehicles were purchased by Koenigsegg dealers to secure build slots for potential clients who could not attend the Geneva show. Aspiring clients without a Jesko build slot are encouraged to contact their Koenigsegg dealer as soon as possible.

Story and images from http://www.koenigsegg.com

Program Development Process

CL-515 Highlights

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