Approximately 2.5 months after the last recall for the BMS, Zero has issued another recall for the controller encoder.
In the previous recall, Zero claimed 254 bikes affected, including 2012 S, DS, XU, X, XU-LSM. The actual fix (improved weatherproofing of the BMS pins) was implemented by Zero in its manufacturing line on 4/13, though the recall was not issued until 6/29. Presumably more than 254 bikes had been sold by that date, including some manufactured after 4/13.
In the current recall, Zero claims 315 bikes affected, including 2012 S and DS (twin stator bikes). The recall does not list when the fix was implemented in assembly, though it seems likely that assembly has been put on hold. The recall covers all bikes manufactured before 7/23, though the cause was not positively identified until 9/12 and the recall was not issued until 9/20. Therefore it seems likely that manufacturing was stopped on 7/23, possibly because sales had slowed or because they were already tracking this issue and stopped until the issue was identified.
I should be careful to not confuse sales and production.
Still, let's forge ahead with assumptions.
Assume 80% of the bikes manufactured by 4/13 were S and DS models*. From 12/22/2011 to 4/13/2012, we're assuming 203 S / DS bikes were produced over a span of 3.7 months, averaging out to 55 bikes/month.
* on the owner's thread,
we have a total of 25 2012 DS / S owners. 0 2012 X / XU / MX bikes are reported there, though I know we have a few 2012 XU owners that post here. 80% seems like a poor estimate, but it's what I'm going with.
From 4/13 to 7/23, then we assume an additional 112 S / DS bikes were produced over a span of 2.7 months, averaging out to 41 bikes/month.
Who knows how well production numbers match sales numbers, but it seems like production at least has tapered off. Zero may sell 400-500 bikes in total this year, which would represent a doubling of 2011 sales. Not bad.
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Topic: NHTSA recalls give us a glimpse into Zero street US motorcycle sales (Read 4990 times)