W.C. Distributing is not only working on plans to bring new Chinese bikes to market in Canada, they’re also working on plans to help customers left high and dry by other companies.
W.C. Distributing has moved into electric motorcycles in the past few months, getting import deals with Brammo, Energica, and Lightning, but they first started their powersports business by selling Johnny Pag motorcycles.
Of course, that deal went bust, but WCD is doing their best to keep customers happy, as well as make new ones. As we told you back in September, WCD has cut out the middleman and is dealing directly with the factory that made the cruisers rebadged by Johnny Pag a few years ago. WCD’s Sven Bernard says his company has tried hard to keep customers supplied with spare parts since then, even though their official supplier went defunct, declaring bankruptcy as Johnny Pag Motor Company and re-opening as Johnny Pag Motorcycles.
Parts supply should be significantly easier in the future, Bernard says, as his company’s new bikes (built by Regal Raptor and branded as the Pagsta in Canada) are now being built; with that underway, he says, “Parts support for pre 2011 Johnny Pag Motorcycles in Canada and the US will be secured and that should make the old JPM Customers very happy.”
That’s good news, if everything works out. Customers who bought the old bikes deserve a better deal than to have a shaky importer flake out on them. Bernard’s company seems like they want to take care of those customers, even if it’s not easy. Props to them if they’re actually able to keep those bikes on the road.
The Pagsta bikes are undergoing the second stage of EPA approval at the moment. As with any Chinese bike, approval is not a slam dunk, but hopefully the upgrades (including improved Delphi EFI) should help, and we’ll see the machines soon. Bernard is hoping for Transport Canada and EPA approval in March, but he says that’s uncertain.
Bernard also says the new bikes have upgraded counter balancers, making them more smooth than the previous versions, and will be available with custom paint.
We also asked Bernard if his company would import the Pitster Pro XTR200 supermoto (aka the Konker), with former competitor Visionary Motorsports now in receivership and their Pitster Pro customers looking for help. Bernard said they had looked into it, but EPA approval would be expensive. That’s not a no, but we’re guessing it isn’t likely.
He did add that his company has looked into sourcing parts for different machines sold under the Pitster Pro brand, to ensure customers could repair their vehicles, by contacting the companies that manufactured the vehicles originally. He hasn’t come up with any solutions yet.
“I am trying, but that only works if these companies want help,” he said.
“The Chinese import market is extremely hard now,” Bernard said. “There was so many bad importers that messed around with TC and EPA and cheated their way in and so on. On top they open up, sell a few containers and close and no parts or warranty … It just made it really messy for companies like us, trying to do everything by the book.
“Now most of these companies have shut down and there is barely anyone left, so hopefully we can get the reputation of the Chinese product repaired.”
Energica Motor Company (EMC, http://www.energicasuperbike.com), the manufacturer of Energica Ego, the first Italian electric superbike, is ready to increase its dealer network.
The 2014 has without a doubt been a thrilling year for EMC.
The official birth of Energica Motor Company srl and Energica Motor Company Inc. (the US division) displayed the strong will of entrepeneur Livia Cevolini in continuing the company plan to become a major player in electric motorcycles field.
“Energica born with a double approach”, says Livia Cevolini, CEO EMC, “an Italian one, full of “Made in Italy” that made us known in all the world, and an American one, with an open-minded vision that allows us to create strong partnership – like the one with ChargePoint.”
The interest on Energica project is international, during 2014 the company met real opportunities for collaboration both in terms of commercial and financial fields.
Energica started the new year with the same trend of growth, and after Italy, Switzerland, Germany and California, it is very proud to announce the first Canadian Dealer: W.C. Distributing in Heisler, in the Province of Alberta!
“Developing a sales network adds value to the project”, says Livia Cevolini, “it shows how dealers believe in our business. First of all Energica dealers are our partners: we are going to build a successful global brand with them”.
Canada is a country very interested in EV market and this collaboration will allow Energica Motor Company to satisfy the needs of all the EGO fans.
The owners of W.C. Distributing passion for motorcycle led them to “Electric” field. The new dealer goes along with Energica policy focused on building a green sustainable future:
“We believe in the future of the electric Motorcycle and have a real passion for them”, says Sven Bernard, W.C. Distributing owner.
If you are interested in getting in touch with W.C. Distributing you can call/write to Mr. Bernard at sven@wcdistributing.com or 780-881-5678.
Find out more about Energica and the new dealers network on http://www.energicasuperbike.com!