The President and CEO of Kawasaki Motors Japan, Takeshi Kaneko, has apologised to Kawasaki dealers for years of slow sales and quality concerns – and pledged to reclaim lost ground.
In a rare appearance, Takeshi Kaneko flew in from Japan to address Kawasaki’s global Jet Ski conference in Cancun, Mexico over the weekend.
Kawasaki has dipped to less than 5 per cent share of global Jet Ski sales, with market leader Sea-Doo dominating with approximately 70 per cent of sales across the personal watercraft sector, comfortably ahead of Yamaha WaveRunner which is tracking at around 25 per cent.
In his speech to a large gathering of Kawasaki Jet Ski dealers, Takeshi Kaneko said:
“At the beginning I need to acknowledge the past few years have been challenging.
“We were not able to provide you with the product volume and quality that is required for dealers to be successful and thrive.
“When you don’t thrive, Jet Ski doesn’t thrive.
“When Jet Ski doesn’t thrive, the personal watercraft industry loses its spirit.
“We are no longer going to let that happen. The next chapter of Jet Ski starts today.”
Announcing a new three-year factory-backed warranty in the US to counter quality concerns (up from the previous 12 month warranty in the US, but still short of the five-year warranty offered by Kawasaki Jet Ski in Australia) the top executive said:
“We will focus on three pillars – product, quality and supply (increased production).
“We will improve our quality. This is more than a policy, it’s a promise.”
Addressing supply constraints, Takeshi Kaneko said production was interrupted by the shift from US production to the new facility in Mexico, which can produce up to 15,000 units per year and employs approximately 1300 workers.
However, he said:“Production has already begun on the exciting new models we are launching today.”
In closing remarks, Bob O’Brien, the Senior Director of Marketing for Kawasaki Motor Corp USA, told the audience:
“Everything you’ve seen here today reinforces Kawasaki’s commitment to the watercraft segment.
“We’ve added five exciting Jet Ski models to the line-up. We’re focused on quality and included a three-year warranty. Production has begun in Mexico.
“We’re investing, we’re innovating, and we’re just getting started.”
Kawasaki also said it was going to reinvigorate its interest in personal watercraft racing – which it once dominated.
And the company announced it has secured the product placement rights to be the personal watercraft supplier in the upcoming Baywatch TV series reboot due to air next year.
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