Harley-Davidson Expands Partnership with ARI
MILWAUKEE--July 13, 2006--| PartSmart Catalog Now Available to Harley-Davidson Dealers in Europe, Middle East and Africa |
ARI (OTCBB:ARIS), a leading provider of technology-enabled business solutions that help equipment dealers build sales and profits, announced today that Harley-Davidson Motor Company has expanded its relationship with ARI to include the deployment of PartSmart(R) for use by over 300 authorized dealers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
Under the new agreement, ARI's European office in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands, will sell and support PartSmart, ARI's CD-based electronic parts catalog, directly to authorized Harley-Davidson and Buell dealers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. ARI Europe will also work with Harley-Davidson's European subsidiary teams to ensure the successful rollout of PartSmart throughout EMEA.
"When ARI presented us with the opportunity to make PartSmart available to our dealers, the decision was easy to make," said Paul Barker, director of Harley-Davidson Europe Ltd, Oxford (UK). "ARI is already publishing the Harley-Davidson and Buell catalogs for use by authorized dealers in the U.S. and Canada. This means our own dealers will be able to immediately begin using PartSmart to look up parts and pricing and, more importantly, our customers will instantly benefit from this process as well," added Barker. The new arrangement was formally announced today at the Harley-Davidson Summer Dealer Meeting in San Diego, CA.
"We welcome this opportunity to work with Harley-Davidson Europe to provide their dealers with the same powerful tool that their counterparts in the U.S. and Canada are currently using," said Paul Versteeg, director of international operations for ARI. "I'm confident that they will experience the same increased productivity and reduced costs as have other dealers worldwide in the Power Sports Industry," concluded Versteeg.
"Harley-Davidson Europe's decision to make PartSmart available to their dealers is a testament to the quality and value of PartSmart, which is used by approximately 29,000 dealers worldwide," said Brian E. Dearing, chairman and chief executive officer of ARI.
About Harley-Davidson, Inc.
Harley-Davidson Europe Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Harley-Davidson Motor Company, the world's oldest and most famous motorcycle company, is responsible for strategic operations and support of the dealer and distributor network in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Harley-Davidson, Inc. is the parent company for the group of companies doing business as Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Buell Motorcycle Company and Harley-Davidson Financial Services. Harley-Davidson Motor Company, the only major U.S.-based motorcycle manufacturer, produces heavyweight motorcycles and offers a complete line of motorcycle parts, accessories, apparel, and general merchandise. Buell Motorcycle Company produces sport motorcycles. Harley-Davidson Financial Services provides wholesale and retail financing and insurance programs to Harley-Davidson dealers and their retail customers. For more information on Harley-Davidson, visit their website www.harley-davidson.com.
About ARI
ARI is a leading provider of electronic parts catalogs and related technology and services to increase sales and profits for dealers in the manufactured equipment markets. ARI currently provides approximately 91 parts catalogs (many of which contain multiple lines of equipment) for approximately 72 equipment manufacturers in the U.S. and Europe. Approximately 81,000 catalog subscriptions are provided through ARI to approximately 29,000 dealers and distributors in approximately 89 countries in a dozen segments of the worldwide equipment market including outdoor power, power sports, ag equipment, recreation vehicle, floor maintenance, auto and truck parts aftermarket, marine and construction. The Company builds and supports a full suite of multi-media electronic catalog publishing and viewing software for the Web or CD and provides expert catalog publishing and consulting services. ARI also provides dealer marketing services, including technology-enabled direct mail, email and an award-winning dealer website service that makes it quick and easy for an equipment dealer to have a professional and attractive website. In addition, ARI e-Catalog systems support a variety of electronic pathways for parts orders, warranty claims and other transactions between manufacturers and their networks of sales and service points. ARI currently operates three offices in the United States and one in Europe and has sales and service agents in England and France providing marketing and support of its products and services.